16-PAGE POLITICAL PULLOUT

INDEPENDENT
FRESH AND
DIFFERENT SIASA PAGE 13

9 Ouko murder probe:

FEBRUARY 2024 How fraudsters
FRIDAY
fooled Gor Sungu
KSh60
(TSh1,000 | USh2,000) select committee

AUDIT INVESTIGATION MAY RETURN TO HAUNT UHURU KENYATTA’S BUREAUCRATS IN SPORTS MINISTRY

Sh2.7bn expenditure
rocks Sports ministry
Suspicious spending includes millions used during Safari Rally Championship in Naivasha PG 4-5

COURT TO FINALLY DELIVER RULING IN JOWIE, MARIBE MURDER CASE

COUNTDOWN: Former TV news anchor Jacque Maribe, murder victim Monica Kimani and Joseph Irungu ‘Jowie’ / FILE / STORY PAGE 9

FISCAL AFFAIRS AND BUDGET POLICY TOXIC BREW

Rotich lands job as Ruto adviser Go for checkup, revellers who
after his acquittal in dams case patronised Kirinyaga bar urged
Former Treasury CS Henry Rotich has landed a job as the presi- Kirinyaga county government has appealed to people who could have taken
dential adviser on fiscal affairs and budget policy. This came barely the illicit brew that has killed over 10 people in Kangai area to visit health
two months after his acquittal in the Sh63 billion Arror and Ki- facilities for checkups. Deputy Governor David Githanda said there could be
mwarer dams case. President William Ruto made the appointment more people suffering at home and asked residents to check on the well-
through Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. being of relatives known to frequent California Bar.

PAGE 2 PAGE 19
 2 THE-STAR.CO.KE
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9-11, 2024
FISCAL AFFAIRS AND BUDGET POLICY
Ex-CS Rotich lands job as
President Ruto’s adviser
President made appointment through Chief of Staff Koskei
GORDON OSEN
@TheStarKenya
Former Treasury CS Henry Rotich
has landed a plum job as the presi-
dential adviser on fiscal affairs and
budget policy.
This came barely two months af-
ter his acquittal in the Sh63 billion
Arror and Kimwarer dams case.
President William Ruto made
the appointment through his Chief
of Staff and Head of Public Service
Felix Koskei.
State House press secretary Em-
manuel Talam told the Star the
news on Rotich’s appointment was
made known to him through a let-
ter written by Koskei.
“The letter to him is personal and
cannot be shared [with the me-
dia],” he said.
Rotich previously served as the
head of macroeconomics at the
Treasury, before he was appointed
as Treasury Cabinet Secretary in
2013 by retired President Uhuru
Kenyatta.
He was, however, relieved of his
position on January 14, 2020, as de-
tails about the Arror and Kimwar-
STAR SURVEY
TODAY’S QUESTION
Do you think Nigeria will
win Afcon?
YESTERDAY’S QUESTION
Can Kalonzo make a good president?
YES 52%
NO 48%
er scandal unravelled and a court
case, in which he was an accused
person, ensued.
Ukur Yatani, then Labour and
Social Protection CS, was appoint-
ed to take his place.
Rotich holds a master’s degree in
economics and a bachelor’s degree
in economics and sociology from
the University of Nairobi.
He also holds a master’s degree
in public administration from the
Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard
University, in the US.
DAMS CASE
The former CS was in December
acquitted in the dams case when
trial magistrate Eunice Nyutu said
no evidence linked him to the alle-
gations levelled against him.
“All the accused persons in this
case are hereby acquitted under
Section 210 due to lack of evidence
as a result of the reckless derelic-
tion of duty by the prosecution,”
the magistrate said.
After the acquittal, Rotich said, “I
think the devil has been ashamed
and I believe he will permanent-
ly be ashamed for those who
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Kenya bags Sh350 billion during Ruto’s Japan trip
President William PSCU/ Financial agreements worth
Ruto arrives Sh350 billion have been signed
at the Kenya- during President William Ruto’s
Japan Business visit to Japan.
Forum organised The agreements will support
by Japan projects and programmes in sec-
External Trade tors that are aimed at turning
Organisation in around the economic fortunes of
Tokyo /PCS the country.
Friday, February 9, 2024
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Rerec partners with
Lamu in Sh20m rural
electrification projects
Former Treasury
CS Henry Rotich FELIX KIPKEMOI / The Rural Electrification and Renew-
/ FILE able Energy Corporation has inked a partnership deal
with Lamu county, committing a combined Sh20
million for electrification projects.
The strategic collaboration, signed on Thursday, ex-
emplifies a commitment to fostering sustainable energy
solutions in the county, Rerec CEO Rose Mkalama said.
Lamu has set aside Sh10 million for two subcounties
in this financial year under the partnership.
In return, Rerec, through the matching fund model,
will contribute a maximum of Sh10 million, doubling
the resources available for electrification initiatives.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who spoke at the
signing of the agreement, said the strategic focus lies in
Lamu West, which boasts 63 per cent arable land.
The decision to prioritise this area stems from the
potential to significantly enhance food security.
“The deal that we have signed today to connect Lamu
West to the national grid will go a long way to catalyse
economic activities, especially in fishing and horticul-
ture, including dairy and crop farming,” Timamy said.
Rerec has a robust track record in Lamu, having
completed 24 projects funded by the government at
Sh210 million.
In this financial year, Rerec is set to implement proj-
ects worth Sh138.2 million.
schemed this evil work...I will give Notably, Rerec will also embark on a project under
a more detailed reaction.” the Kenya Off-grid Solar Access Project, backed by the
Shortly after the acquittal, four World Bank, to solarise 21 boreholes in the county, an
human rights organisations moved initiative estimated to cost around Sh49 million.
to the High Court to sue the DPP The signing of this collaboration framework marks
over the acquittal of Rotich and his the initiation of a partnership aimed at enabling Rerec
co-accused. to fulfil its mandate in the implementation of electrifi-
Transparency International, the cation projects in the county.
Kenya Human Rights Commission, Beyond the immediate project, it sets the stage for
the Katiba Institute and the Afri- ongoing cooperation between Rerec and Lamu, estab-
can Centre for Governance wanted lishing a framework for the efficient implementation of
their application filed on Decem- electrification projects and programmes.
ber 29, 2023, certified urgent, and Rerec, mandated to spearhead Kenya’s renewable
two prosecution counsels held lia- energy drive and rural electrification projects, has faced
ble. “The petitioners seek account- financial challenges, primarily relying on exchequer
ability for the “reckless dereliction funding.
of duty by prosecution counsel in
the Sh63 billion Arror and Kim-
warer dams case,” lawyer Ochiel
Dudley said in court documents.
They argued that although the
public had already lost Sh63 bil-
lion, it could lose more if, despite The deal that we have signed
the petition, the accused persons
sue and are paid damages for mali- today to connect Lamu West
cious prosecution from the public
purse. to the national grid will go a
The organisations accused the long way to catalyse economic
counsel of failing to call witness-
es, citing “firm instructions not to activities
proceed with the matter.”
The largest projects to benefit are opment project will get Sh15 bil-
the Dongo Kundu Infrastructure lion. Japan will also provide Sh1
Ecosystem and the Mombasa Gate- billion for the production of medi-
way Bridge at the Coast at Sh260 cal oxygen for various hospitals.
billion. Through the United Nations,
President Ruto and Prime Min- Kenya will receive Sh320 million
ister Fumio Kishida also agreed humanitarian aid for those affect-
that Kenya will issue a Sh40 billion ed by the recent El Nino-related
Samurai bond in Japan to finance floods.
energy and infrastructure projects. Other agreements include MoUs
A Samurai bond is a yen-denom- on cooperation in the ICT, health,
inated bond issued in Tokyo by a finance and security.
non-Japanese company. The bond He said the MoU will include en-
is, however, subject to Japanese hancing the capacity of the Kenya
regulations. Medical Research Institute to build
Kenya also secured a Sh30 bil- on its pandemic management po-
lion from the Japan Bank for Inter- tential at a cost of Sh3 billion.
national Cooperation to purchase To strengthen the partnership
heavy machinery and mechanised between the two countries in de-
assets. fence, an agreement on Defence
The Olkaria Geothermal Devel- Cooperation was also signed.
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 3

PHOTO STORY
Wife of the
CORRIDORS OF POWER
Deputy
President Dorcas
Gachagua joins
a taarab dance
at Tumutumu
Girls High School
in Nyeri on
Thursday after
attending a board
meeting
/ HANDOUT

POLITICAL
GOSSIP
Who is doing what
and where in the
world of politics
KILLER DRINKS
A TOP GOVERNMENT official is alle-

Quit selling illicit brews, MPs gedly enraged after missing out on his
share of a fortune he and others worked
their way into recently. We are told the
man stopped sending emissaries to the

warn Murang’a bootleggers would-be source after learning of bigger

They vow state crackdown will go on as death toll rises in neighbouring Kirinyaga
KNA
@TheStarKenya
Makers and sellers of illicit brews
in Murang’a should close shop and
venture into legitimate businesses
because the fight against the trade
is unstoppable.
That was the stern warning Mu-
rang’a Woman Rep Betty Maina
and Senator Joe Nyutu issued as
administrators and members of
the public reeled in shock after the
death toll from bootleg liquor rose
in neighbouring Kirinyaga county.
At least 10 people were con-
firmed dead while five lost their
eyesight after drinking suspected
adulterated alcohol.
Speaking at Ithiru, Kanda-
ra constituency, on Wednesday
during distribution of avocado
seedlings, Maina said alcoholism
CARTOON
is detrimental to the growth and
development of any society, add-
ing that it was paramount for all
stakeholders to join in the fight.
“Murang’a women will fight il-
licit brews to the end because it is
unacceptable for our young men,
women and even the elderly to die
from consuming the illicit brews
as the sellers and manufacturers
thrive through this trade,” she
said. “We are tired of burying our
sons and what happened in neigh-
bouring Kirinyaga county must
not be replicated here.”
Maina thanked the local ad-
ministration and the police for the
spirited fight they have continu-
ously mounted by arresting illicit
brews traders.
The woman rep issued 15 water
tanks to 15 public institutions and
gifted over 1,000 elderly men and
women blankets and food.
Senator Nyutu called on liquor
licensing authorities to get tough
as some brews contained harmful
substances and should not be in
the market.
“We must save our generation
and we join Deputy President
Rigathi Gachagua in this fight and
declare that manufacturers and
traders of illicit brews in Mt Kenya
region will be brought to book,”
he said. “Stringent measures must
be put in place as we will not allow
killer brews in this region.”
At the same time, Kenya Reve-
nue Authority chairperson Antho-
ny Mwaura said the economy can-
not be developed with proceeds
from illicit brews. “Stop collecting
bribes to allow illicit brews trade
to go on. Together we can save our
generation,” he said.
bosses who were equally aware of the
game plan. It’s alleged that the officer
was to get a chunk of the fortune from a
county chief and a colleague in govern-
ment. However, their leader reportedly
took most of the lot, leaving the three
with little to share. The man is said to be
caught in the horns of a dilemma and has
been cautious on whom to discuss his
disappointment with.
AN MP FROM Rift Valley is in a spot
after several buildings he put up using
the National Government Constituency
Development Fund were condemned as
unsafe for occupation. An insider whispe-
red to Corridors of Power that the project
was possibly executed without any bill
of quantities or architectural and struc-
tural plans. The buildings, most of them
classrooms, are said to have developed
cracks on the floors, have leaking roofs
and sagging slabs which endanger the
lives of learners. Residents are waiting for
an explanation from their legislator for the
shoddy job in almost all his projects.
WE’RE TOLD THE ground has become
increasingly hostile for an MP from Nyan-
za who rebelled against his party. The
man cannot enjoy his usual drinks at his
favourite local joint. So bad is the hostility
towards him that the legislator has to
make special arrangements to be served
his bottles in a backroom. Before he chan-
ged his political allegiance, the man was
known for buying everybody a drink at
the bar. Maybe Mheshimiwa should find a
new way to shore up his diminishing clout
on the ground.
A POLITICO FROM Western has con-
founded his allies and foes alike over his
next plan of action. The man has been
sending mixed signals regarding his po-
litical activities. We are told the politician
may have found a new home, or is walking
into one, hence his latest puzzling ma-
noeuvres. An insider in his camp intimated
to Corridors of Power that it was just a
matter of time before the scheme went
public. The man’s point is that he doesn’t
feel appreciated in his current home. It is
believed the holder of the seat he is eye-
ing in the next election may have created
fertile ground for the looming big shift.
If you have any tips send them to
Tips@the-star.co.ke
4 THE-STAR.CO.KE
news SPECIAL AUDIT ALL PROJECTS FEATURE OVERPAYMENT, ILLEGAL VARIATIONS OF CONTRACTS
Sh2.7bn expenditure
rocks Sports ministry
LUKE AWICH
@AchiaAwich
A new audit has laid bare the
financial rot in the Ministry of
Sports that may return to haunt
top dogs who served under re-
tired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s
ten-year rule.
A special audit report shows
that Kenya could have lost over
Sh2.7 billion in the construction
of six stadiums and hosting of
several sporting activities, in-
cluding the celebrated World Ral-
ly Championship.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs,
Sports and the Arts has invest-
ed a lot in sports infrastructure
which, however, are not benefit-
ing to the citizens as intended,”
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu
concludes.
Amina Mohamed served as the
Sports Cabinet Secretary from
2019 to 2022.
For more news The two-part special report in-
on our website. dicates that up to Sh1.04 billion
cannot be traced in the construc-
Scan this quick
response code tion of six stadiums across the
using your country.
smartphone. A common feature of all the
projects was overpayment, illegal
variations of contracts, procure-
ment irregularities and missing
payment documents.
The stadiums include Kipchoge
Keino phases one and phase two,
Kinoru, Marsabit and Nyayo Na-
tional Stadium.
At Nyayo Stadium, for instance,
there was unsupported expen-
diture on builders amounting to
Sh294.2 million, besides what
auditors termed “poor workman-
ship”.
There was also double pay-
ments for materials amounting to
Sh6.9 million as well as payments
for undelivered electrical goods
amounting to Sh10.5 million.
“There were irregularities not-
ed such as failure to provide en-
gineers’ estimates, payment of
certified works without a valid
contract, payment for undefined
works, double contracting of
CCTV works, poor workmanship
and non-recovery of Western
wing mobilisation fee,” the sum-
mary audit states in part.
Gathungu further faults the
ministry for deliberately conceal-
ing crucial documents in the mul-
timillion-shilling repair works.
Among the documents the
management failed to provided
included feasibility study reports,
site instructions and mechanical
and structural drawing designs.
According to the audit find-
ings, in Kamariny Stadium some
Sh48,536,729 payments were
made without any supporting
document.
“We noted procurement irregu-
larities which included non-eval-
uation of responsive bidders, lack
of sub-contractors’ contracts and
unsupported extension of the
construction period,” the report
reveals on Kamariny Stadium.
SUMMARY AUDIT
There were
irregularities noted
such as failure to
provide engineers’
estimates, payment
of certified works
without a valid
contract, payment
for undefined works
Friday, February 9, 2024
It was a similar case with Kip-
choge Keino phases one and two
where there was Sh52 million
overpayment and Sh79.6 mil-
lion variations between the bills
of quantities and the certified
amount.
At Kinoru Stadium, the special
audit reveals that Sh182 million
was paid for civil and builders’
works but there were no payment
vouchers.
In Marsabit Stadium, the au-
dit unearthed Sh71 million un-
supported contract variations,
lack of sub-contractors’ contract
agreements and direct payment
to sub-contractors totalling
Sh922,808.
PAC chairman John Mbadi said
the committee would not rest un-
til the issues raised by the Audi-
tor General were addressed and
those who bore responsibility ac-
counted for the expenditures.
“This wastage is unfortunate
and from the summary already
there is wastage and it is so seri-
ous,” Mbadi said.
The report, which is in the final
stages, will be formally tabled in
the House next week after Parlia-
ment resumes sittings from the
long December recess.
The damning revelations come
at a time the government has an-
 Friday, February 9, 2024
S, PROCUREMENT IRREGULARITIES AND MISSING PAYMENT DOCUMENTS
Sebastien
Loeb with
navigator
Isabelle Galmiche
of M Sport Ford
Rally team in
action at Hell’s
Gate stage
on June 26, 2022
/JACK OWUOR
nounced a facelift for stadiums in
the country to meet international
standards.
The programme to be executed
by a joint team will focus on Nai-
robi renovation of selected stadia
and the construction of the Talan-
ta Stadium ahead of the 2027 Af-
rican Cup of Nations tournament.
The biannual tournament will
be jointly hosted by Kenya, Ugan-
da and Tanzania under the Pamo-
ja Bid.
The report appears to give cre-
dence to claims that the ministry
has not been receiving value for
money from the funding for de-
velopment of sports and its infra-
structure.
There have also been concerns
of unjustified delays in conclud-
ing some of the stadia projects de-
spite availability of budget.
The second part of the audit
narrowed on sporting activities
with the new report indicating
that the ministry cannot account
for Sh1.7 billion.
Among the questionable ex-
penditures include monies used
during the World Safari Rally
Championship that saw Kenyans
throng Naivasha town.
WSRC organisers, the report
shows, spent Sh131 million to hire
helicopters that were never seen
in the sky.
According to auditor, there was
no evidence that helicopters were
actually hired despite millions
drawn for the same.
“We noted that the hire of he-
licopters and aircraft services
payment of Sh131,416, 184 was
not supported with journey man-
ifests,” the report reads.
A flight manifest is a compre-
hensive document that contains
details of passengers and crew
members on a specific flight.
The special audit was prompt-
ed by Sports Cabinet Secretary
Ababu Namwamba, who wrote to
Gathungu in January last year to
demand scrutiny of the projects.
Ababu had expressed fears that
the country might not have got
value for the billions spent on
sports infrastructure.
“The Auditor General received a
letter from the Cabinet Secretary
in the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports dated 11 January, 2023,
requesting for a special audit of
the infrastructure programmes
funded by the Government of
Kenya country-wide through the
ministry for the last ten years
(2013-2022),” Gathungu said in
her brief to Parliament.
“The ministry had indicated it
had not been receiving value for
money from the funding of the
development of sports and its in-
frastructure.”
The special report was tabled
before the oversight committee
on Wednesday by Deputy Auditor
General Sylvester Kiini on behalf
of her boss Gathungu who is in
Cameroon on official assignment.
The special audit was to cover
all the 29 stadia in the country
but only managed to review six
due to budget constraints.
“We were supposed to carry out
audit in the 37 facilities but we
were only able to audit only six
stadia and two facilities,” Kiini
told the oversight committee.
“The office is in the process of
requesting for more funding to
audit the remaining 22 stadia.”
This may imply that the ques-
tionable expenditure could be
higher by the time the audit team
finalises all the stadia.
Highlights of
SPECIAL AUDIT: Areas of concern
WRC pending bill
amounting to
Sh550 million
Variation of
presidential
pavilion contract by
45 percent instead
of 25 percent
Sh131m for helicopter
hire during WRC, no
supporting documents
STAR ILLUSTRATED
THE-STAR.CO.KE
SH1.7 BILLION
Choppers that didn’t
fly, rally, dubious pay
Steering committee illegally gave itself
an extension in office, incurring millions
LUKE AWICH/ A special audit has un-
earthed Sh1.7 billion unexplained
expenditure in high-profile activi-
ties at the Sports ministry.
The sporting events include the
2021 World Safari Rally Champion-
ship that saw thousands of Kenyans
throng Naivasha to watch the spec-
tacular event making a return after
19 years.
The championship was part of
retired President Uhuru Kenyat-
ta’s promises to Kenyans before his
election.
But a damning report almost
three years later now shows the
millions of public money spent to
host the championship cannot be
accounted for.
In the WRC alone, Auditor Gener-
al Nancy Gathungu’s report reveals
that up to Sh845 million cannot be
traced.
Another sporting event on Gath-
ungu’s radar is the 2020 Interna-
tional Amateur Athletics Federation
under 20 event where Sh867 mil-
lion is under scrutiny.
During the WRC, the audit find-
ings question Sh131 million al-
legedly spent to hire helicopters but
which were never sighted on the
sky.
The report indicates there was
no evidence that the helicopters
Unsupported Sh294,204,877
payment to builders at
Nyayo stadium
IAAF U20 steering and organising
committee Sh747,406,329
unbudgeted for expenditures
after expiry of term
were actually hired despite millions
drawn for the same by the WRC
steering committee.
“We noted that the hire of heli-
copters and aircraft services pay-
ment of Sh131,416, 184 was not sup-
ported with journey manifests,” the
report reads.
A flight manifest is a comprehen-
sive document that contains details
of passengers, crew members on a
specific flight.
The audit also shows doubtful
expenditure on car hire services
amounting to Sh232.9 million.
Before taking power in 2013,
Uhuru had committed to return
the Safari Rally to the International
Automobile Federation World Rally
Championship family.
The organisers of the champion-
ship also varied the contract for the
presidential pavilion by 45 per cent
instead of the recommended 25 per
cent, occasioning Sh48.3 million
above the budget.
No document was given to the
audit team to back spending on the
pavilion.
Despite questionable spending
on the WRC, Gathungu noted that
the event left the country with
Sh550 million pending bills, signal-
ling troubles the suppliers could be
undergoing
Kamariny stadium:
Sh48,536,729 were
made without
supporting document
Sh52 million
overpayment in
Kipchoge Keino
phases I and II
www.the-star.co.ke
5
COMMENT
SAM NYAMWEYA
Give Ruto
team benefit
of doubt on
stadia plans
I
don’t think we have stadiums to
meet the standards of hosting
tournaments like Africa Cup of
Nations and the World Cup.
However, I have heard President
William Ruto’s administration
say that they are going to build
stadiums.
If they have said they will do so,
and have confirmed that they will
host Afcon in 2027, we must give
them the benefit of the doubt.
It must be noted, though, that it
has taken inordinately long before
the country has had a stadium
built to international standards.
The government needs to
engage experts to help build
stadiums that can stand the test of
the current times.
They need to engage people
who have built world-class
stadiums all over the world. That
one is required. I don’t think we
have those kinds of contractors
locally.
I have travelled all over the
world and can attest to the good
work experts have done out there.
You get such kind of contractors
in China, Italy or France. For
instance, the contractor I engaged
to put the carpet at Kisumu’s Moi
Stadium was not sourced locally.
The contractor was from France
and you can see the kind of work
the company did.
A lot of work must, therefore,
be done. So far, I don’t think
we have the class of stadiums
required for high calibre
international tournaments. Even
Moi International Sports Centre,
Kasarani, cannot pass the test as
it is now.
It is for this reason that we
call on the government to put
more effort. Before he became
President, Ruto said the
government would build world-
class stadiums.
Now that he is the President
and has said - not once, not
twice - that he will implement
this, let us give him the benefit
of the doubt. He is in charge
now and Kenyans will hold him
responsible if he fails – especially
if we can’t afford to host Afcon.
Stadiums are not hard to build
if you get the right contractor. We
have seen good contractors work
even under strenuous conditions
like was the case in Qatar. Let’s,
therefore, give the current
administration time to fulfil their
pledge.
Former FKF president spoke to Star
6 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR VARIOUS POSITIONS

Stima DT Sacco Society Limited, a key player in Kenya’s financial sector, is seeking to recruit highly qualified professionals with strategic orientation and strong sense of professionalism to fill in the positions of Chief
Manager Finance, Customer Experience Manager, Shared Services Manager, Branch Manager and Information and Communication Technology Manager. The successful candidates will play a crucial role in spearheading
change and enhancing Member experiences through innovative solutions.

Job Title: Department Employment type Job Title: Department Employment type
Chief Manager Finance Finance Contract Branch Manager Strategy and Business Permanent & Pensionable
Reports to: Supervises Location of role Reports to: Supervises Location of role
Chief Executive Officer • Finance Manager Nairobi, Kenya Chief Manager Strategy and Business • Branch Operations Officer Kenya
• Treasury • Credit Officer
Job Purpose • Sales and Relationship Officer
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will Responsible for providing financial and treasury Job Purpose
support to the Society and stakeholders of the business and providing strategic leadership and oversight to Finance Reporting to the Chief Manager Strategy and Business, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing the
functions of the Society. branch to achieve growth and profitability, overseeing the day-to-day branch operations, resource management, risk
Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities Academic Qualification/ Experience Behavioural competencies management and control and ensuring excellent customer experience.
• Formulates and drives implementation of • Bachelor’s degree in Business • Leadership skills. Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities Academic Qualification/ Behavioural competencies
leading approaches to the strategic planning Administration, Accounting, Finance • Communication and Experience
process covering finance and treasury. or a relevant field. interpersonal skills.
• A Master’s degree in Finance or • Decision making.
• Participates in formulating the Society’s • A Bachelor’s degree in a • Ability to make operational decisions.
• Oversight of Treasury management of group
holdings, with the ultimate goal of enhancing business will be an added advantage. • Knowledge of the Sacco business plan by preparing and business - related field from a • Analytical risk assessment skills.
treasury as a revenue centre. • Certified Public Accountant of Kenya sector. implementing annual business strategy recognised University. • Demonstrable experience in innovation
• Planning the Asset Liability Committee (K) or Association of Chartered • Analytical risk assessment aimed at driving regional growth • Certified Professional Banker and entrepreneurship.
(ALCO). Certified Accountants (ACCA). skills. objectives. or other related professional • Stakeholder management.
• Responsible for the strategy on investment • Full member of a relevant • Stakeholder management • Initiate marketing initiatives in the qualifications will be an added • Ability to interpret long term plans,
of funds, capital raising plans, liquidity and professional body such as Institute • Ability to interpret long respective region and ensure availability advantage. programs and budgets.
the evaluation of risk through cash flow of Certified Accountants of Kenya term plans, programs and of correctly branded merchandize and • Membership to a professional • Ability to develop plans, programs,
forecasting and management. (ICPAK) or Association of Chartered budgets. proper display of promotional materials body. standard operating procedures, and
• Manages and co-ordinates all aspects of Certified Accountants (ACCA) in • Ability to develop plans, to enhance publicity. • Minimum Six (6) years’ coordination of workflows.
reporting, budgeting, final accounts, and good standing. programs, Standard • Supervise and coordinate at branch experience with three years • Ability to write complex reports.
liaison with internal and statutory auditors. • Twelve (12) years of relevant work Operating Procedures, and level, the operations of Mpawa Insurance (3) at supervisory level in the • Leadership, interpersonal and team
• Leads the development and implementation of experience with at least three (3) coordination of workflows.
Agency while collaborating with other Banking or Sacco sector. management skills.
policies and procedures relating to finance and years in management role. • Ability to write complex
treasury. reports. business functions to drive growth • Ability to build relationships with
strategies. customers and other stakeholders.
Job Title: Department Employment type • Continuously identify new market • Strategic thinker with a commercial
opportunities, gather market insights, acumen.
Customer Experience Manager Strategy and Business Permanent & Pensionable understand customer trends, and • Must demonstrate high level of integrity.
Reports to: Supervises Location of role develop appropriate business strategies
for penetration and expansion.
Chief Manager Strategy and Business • Diaspora Officer Nairobi, Kenya • Champion operationalization, uptake
• Member Education and
and growth of alternative business
Retention Officer
channels and service points including
Job Purpose Stima Mlangoni and maintaining
Reporting to the Chief Manager Strategy and Business, the successful candidate will be Responsible for providing lead- business relationships with check off
ership in implementing of customer experience strategic initiatives in alignment with the corporate strategy, designing companies.
appropriate methodology and approach to service improvement in support of business growth. • Responsible for cascading to branch
staff a clear strategic direction and
Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities Academic Qualification/ Experience Behavioural competencies
the set business objectives; setting
• Participate in formulation and implementation of • A minimum of a Bachelor’s • Ability to apply principles performance measures to facilitate an
customer experience strategy and design leading degree in a Business - related of customer relationship effective performance review process
approaches to customer experience. field. management and and provide support as necessary.
• Drive the teams to deliver a positive customer • Master’s degree in a relevant field experience with CRM • Ensure compliance with all branch
experience; champion opportunities to improve will be an added advantage. software. controls, processes & procedures;
customer experience, drive customer retention and • Certification in Customer • Demonstrate a strategic
adhere to the relevant statutory,
increase customer satisfaction. Experience will be an added thinking, ability to
• Assess customer service requirements, explore and advantage. manage and drive legal, regulatory and Operations Risk
develop customer journey mapping capability at the • Member of a professional body. change. requirements including occupational,
Society. • A minimum of Nine (9) years’ • Good leadership and safety and health requirements.
• Ensure responsive, consistent, and effective experience in customer service communication skills.
communication with customers / members and / or, sales and relationship • Excellent listening and Job Title: Department Employment type
and establish mechanisms to listen carefully to management function in a conflict management
customers / members. financial service environment skills. Information and Communication Information and Communication Permanent & Pensionable
• Design and implement customer feedback and with at least three (3) years at a • Possesses a high level Technology (ICT) Manager Technology Operations
resolution mechanisms, ensure prompt resolution managerial level. of personal drive and is Reports to: Supervises Location of role
of issues and manage escalation of customer result-oriented.
complaints across the organisation. • Good interpersonal skills Chief Manager Information Communication • Systems Administrator Team Nairobi, Kenya
• Create a knowledge base of what is available both and a team player. Technology and Operations Lead
within, across services and customer touch points • High level of analytical • Application Analyst Team
and by other providers; use industry knowledge skills, data-driven Lead
and standards to research and develop internal thinking and problem • Infrastructure Team Lead
capabilities. solving.
• Develop and implement service measurement tools • Advanced Job Purpose
aimed at operational improvement of customer communication and Reporting to the Chief Manager Information Communication Technology and Operations, the successful candidate will
service delivery at all touch points. interpersonal skills. be responsible for the provision of comprehensive management of the ICT function, encompassing management and
• Leverage on data analytics and statistics in • Demonstrate a clear implementation of the SACCOs information and Communication Technology initiatives, all aimed at facilitating and driving
determining the level of customer satisfaction understanding of Public digital transformation.
on services rendered and measure customer Relations codes of ethics.
satisfaction by conducting customer satisfaction Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities Academic Qualification/ Behavioural competencies
surveys. Experience
• Develop and implement an ICT strategy • A Bachelor’s Degree • Adequate knowledge of the relevant
Job Title: Department Employment type
aligned with the Sacco’s business in Computer Science, industry / sector as well as knowledge
Shared Services Manager Information and Permanent & Pensionable objectives. Information Technology or a of regulatory requirements affecting the
Communication Technology • Manages all information technology related field from a recognised relevant sector.
Operations infrastructure and shared services University. • Knowledge of the Information
Reports to: Supervises Location of role including both primary and secondary • A Master’s Degree will be an Communication Technology trends in the
Chief Manager Information Communication • Head of Check off Nairobi, Kenya data centres. added advantage market.
Technology and Operations • Bulk Payment • Oversee core systems (Profits, I-Apply, • Microsoft Certified • Knowledge of International
• Funds Transfer CRM, IEDMS, Office 365, MS Dynamics Systems Engineer, Azure Standardisation Organisation quality and
• Check off processing Officer Business Central) efficiency. Administration, Linux professional standards.
• E - Channels • Manages Information Communication Professional Institute 1, A • Knowledge in planning and budgeting
Job Purpose Technology disaster recovery systems. Cisco Certified Network processes.
• Facilitates user training on existing Professional, Certified • Ability to plan, organize, implement and
Reporting to the Chief Manager Information Communication Technology and Operations, the successful candidate will be and new information communication Information Systems Security evaluate assigned goals.
responsible for supporting the Shared Services (SS) Section with a consistently high-quality support structure. systems. Professional is an added • Demonstrated ability to handle
Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities Academic Qualification/ Behavioural competencies • Conducts budgeting and budgetary advantage. multiple and conflicting Information
Experience control for the department. • Full Member of a relevant Communication Technology.
• Manages country wide salaries • A Bachelor’s degree in a • Adequate knowledge of the relevant • Provides advisory services on all professional body. priorities, and work under Information
and allowances by recruiting new business-related field from a industry/sector as well as knowledge of Information Communication Technology • Nine (9) years of relevant Communication Technology deadlines.
companies and agreeing on modalities recognised University. regulatory. requirements affecting the matters to Management and Board. work experience with at least • Strong communication and analytical
for remittances, processing of • A Master’s Degree will be an relevant sector. • Optimises usage of Information three (3) years in a managerial skills.
salaries, handling emerging issues and added advantage. • Knowledge of the Information Communication Technology hardware role. • Ability to manage projects effectively
relationship management. • Certification in Lean Six Sigma Communication Technology trends in the and software. and efficiently.
• Ensures proper and efficient functioning and Project Management will market. • Collaborate with senior management • Ability to function effectively both as a
of banking operations at the Shared be an added advantage. • Knowledge of ISO quality and professional to identify technology needs and team player and unit leader.
Services. • Member of a relevant standards. opportunities for innovation.
• Manages withdrawal channels including professional body. • Knowledge in planning and budgeting
• Conduct regular technology
float management, repatriation of • Nine (9) years of relevant and processes.
customer deposits, resolution of progressively responsible • Ability to plan, organize, implement and assessments to ensure the Information
customer issues (undispersed cash, work experience in banking, evaluate assigned goals. Communication Technology
monies deposited in wrong account). operations or related field • Demonstrated ability to handle multiple infrastructure supports current and
• Oversees the posting of various entries with at least three (3) years at and Information Communication future business requirements.
to relevant bank account mainly: managerial level. Technology priorities, and work under
incoming check off, salaries, outgoing Information Communication Technology
Electronic Funds Transfer, cheques and deadlines.
channels. • Strong communication and analytical skills. We invite you to view the detailed job descriptions and apply for the positions at
• Ensures compliance with regulatory • Ability to manage projects effectively and https://www.pkfea.com/careers. The deadline for applications is 16th February 2024.
provisions and requirements. efficiently. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No hard – copy applications are accepted. Stima DT Sacco
• Manages and mitigates operational risk. • Ability to function effectively both as a
team player and unit leader. Society Limited is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 7

NEWS GENERAL
NOT EFFECTIVE thority suffers an excruciating staff

Audit gives damning verdict on

shortage in the face of its mountain-
ous responsibility.
“As of June 30, 2022, the authority
had 32 staff that also doubles up as
the fund’s staff to handle operations

UFAA as dormant assets pile up

Gathungu says authority is not meeting its mandate of tracing unclaimed assets
Sh604 million worth of claims had
been paid.
MOSES ODHIAMBO “This represented a reunification
@AliwaMoses rate of three per cent of total assets
remitted by holders,” Gathungu said.
A new audit has castigated the Un- According to the figures on the
claimed Financial Assets Authority UFAA website, the amount has
for not performing its crucial role of since increased to Sh62.34 billion,
unifying dormant assets to the ben- of which only Sh2.03 billion has
eficiaries effectively and efficiently. been paid.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu “Millions of Kenyans are yet to
has said the authority is not meeting claim Sh50 billion worth of cash
its mandate of tracing unclaimed and other unclaimed financial as-
assets and reunifying them with sets. You might be one of them,” the
beneficiaries. authority says in a campaign to have
“The authority is not meeting its more beneficiaries turn up to make
mandate efficiently and effective- claims.
ly…my opinion is not modified in UFAA started receiving unclaimed
respect of this matter,” she said in assets from various portfolio holders
a review of UFAA books as of June in 2014, but the reunification with
30, 2022. the beneficiaries started in 2016.
This followed the auditor’s find- Concerns are rife, however, about
ings then that of the Sh22.6 billion not only the pace at which the claims
that was received from holders, only were being processed and paid but
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu /FILE
also the low claims rate by the ben-
eficiaries.
UFAA managers said several fac-
countrywide,” Gathungu said.
UFAA also cited challenges with
the law, which discourages low-val-
ue claims due to cost implications.
The “non-differentiated claim”
process is said to hinder the effec-
tive transfer of assets to the intended
beneficiaries.
The authority blamed a regula-
tory regime “that prescribes forms
which favour physical delivery of
documents by claimants”.
The forms and associated doc-
uments are processed manually,
hence slowing down the claims
process.
Managers at the John Mwangi-led
fund also raised concerns about the
nature of unclaimed assets “where
tracing and location of rightful own-
ers takes time”.
It further cited low awareness lev-
els among beneficiaries and “many
receipts of very small amounts with-
out any provision or mechanism to
donate”. “The above factors do not
adequately support an effective re-
unification process,” Gathungu said.
UFAA managers have indicated
tors, including internal, explain the the authority has proposed and ad-
slow pace of reunification. opted several measures to address
Top of the concerns is that the au- low reunification.

TENDER NOTICE
MOMBASA WATER SUPPLY AND Kenya Railway (KR) invites application from interested and eligible Firms for the below tenders:-

SANITATION COMPANY LIMITED

TENDER CLOSING
NO TENDER NUMBER ITEM DESCRIPTION COST ELIGIBILITY DATE/TIME
Provision of Security Guarding Services for Kenya 20th February,2024
1. KR/SCM/046/2023-2024 1,000.00 Open
Railways Premises along MGR line, RTI & Headquarters 10.00 a.m.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NOTIFICATION 2. KR/SCM/055/2023-2024
Provision of Security Guarding Services for Kenya
Railways Transit Shed Bomaline
1,000.00 Open
20th February,2024
2.00 p.m.
Provision of Bush Clearing Service along the Standard 23rd February, 2024
The County Government of Mombasa has appointed Mombasa Water Supply 3. KR/SCM/056/2023-2024
Gauge Railway (SGR) Mombasa-Nairobi-Suswa
1,000.00 Open
10.00 a.m.

and Sanitation Company Limited (MOWASSCO) as a revenue collection agency 4. KR/SCM/057/2023-2024 Provision of Valuation for MV Uhuru II 1,000.00 Open
23rd February, 2024
2.00 p.m.
for certain service levies. This is in line with Section 6(2), (a) and (c) of the County 5. KR/SCM/058/2023-2024
Supply and Delivery of Track Ballast for Mombasa-Nairobi
1,000.00 Open
26th February, 2024
Standard Gauge Railway Line for FY 2023-2024 for Mtito Andei 10.00 a.m.
Government Act; that allows the County Government of Mombasa to delegate Provision of Break down Maintenance Services for Borehole 26th February, 2024
6. KR/SCM/059/2023-2024 Pumps,Fire Booster Pumps, Sewage Booster Pumps and 1,000.00 Open
2.00 p.m.
any of its functions to other Entities within its jurisdiction. Domestic Water
27th February, 2024
7. KR/SCM/060/2023-2024 Proposed Reconstruction of Athi River SGR Freight Yard 1,000.00 Open
10.00 a.m.
27th February, 2024
In line with the above provisions, MOWASSSCO has organized public 8. KR/SCM/061/2023-2024 Proposed Redevelopment of MSAADA Estate in Mombasa 1,000.00 Open
2.00 p.m.
Provision of Consultancy Services for Resettlement Action
participation fora to be held at the Sub County levels. All members of the public, 9. KR/SCM/062/2023-2024
Plan (RAP) for Kisumu- Malaba SGR Phase 2C
1,000.00 Open
28th February, 2024
10.00 a.m.
County development partners, professionals, civil society representatives and 10. KR/SCM/063/2023-2024
Provision of Consultancy Services for Resettlement Action
1,000.00 Open
28th February, 2024
Plan (RAP) for Naivasha- Kisumu SGR Phase 2B 2.00 p.m.
other interested groups are therefore invited to attend the meetings at the 11. KR/SCM/064/2023-2024
Supply and Delivery of Communication and Electrical
1,000.00 Open
29th February, 2024
Consumables 10.00 a.m.
below mentioned venues on the dates scheduled below:
Candidates are encouraged to peruse the Tender Document from KR Website: www.krc.co.ke, and PPIP Website:
www.tender.go.ke or from the office of the General Manager- SCM, Kenya Railways Headquarters Block B, Ground floor,
Nairobi prior to purchase.
S/NO. DATE SUB COUNTY VENUE TIME Interested bidders may obtain the Tender Documents from the office of the General Manager – SCM, Kenya Railways
1 Friday 16th Changamwe Changamwe 9.00 AM-12.00 PM Headquarters, Block B, Ground Floor upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Kshs.1,000.00 or download the document
from KR and PPIP website at NO CHARGE. Bidders who download the Tender Document must register their interest
February, 2024 social hall immediately by sending an email to procure@krc.co.ke stating their names, email, postal & telephone address and tender
2 Jomvu Mikindani 9.00 AM-12.00 PM details.

social hall Completed Tender Documents (accompanied by a Tender Security in the amount and form specified in the tender
document) in plain sealed envelopes must be clearly marked with the “Tender No. and the Description of the Tender”: and
3 Kisauni Bilima grounds 9.00 AM-12.00 PM shall be addressed to:-
-Magogoni The Managing Director
4 Likoni Likoni social hall 9.00 AM-12.00 PM Kenya Railways
P.O. Box 30121-00100
5 Nyali VOK social hall 9.00 AM-12.00 PM NAIROBI.
6 Mvita Tononoka 9.00 AM-12.00 PM and be deposited in the Tender Box situated at the Reception Area, Ground Floor, Kenya Railways Headquarters, Block C
social hall on or before the closing date and time. Tenders will opened in the presence of the tenderers’ representatives who choose
to attend at the Kenya Railways Headquarters.

MANAGING DIRECTOR
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,
MOMBASA WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION COMPANY LIMITED.
 8 THE-STAR.CO.KE
NEWS GENERAL
DEVOLVED FUNCTION
Devolution: State starts process
to transfer museums to counties
Committee is spearheading the exercise that seeks to fully streamline devolution
JULIUS OTIENO
@TheStarKenya
The government has started the
transfer of 25 museums and gazetted
sites to counties as transfer of de-
volved functions gains momentum.
The Intergovernmental Relations
Technical Committee is spearhead-
ing the exercise that seeks to fully
streamline devolution.
On Tuesday, Trans Nzoia county
government became the first county
to have its museum transferred.
Culture and Heritage Principal
Secretary Ummi Bashir said there
are 25 museums, national mon-
uments and gazetted sites set for
transfer to county governments.
“We have started with seven coun-
ties but the negotiations are going
on with the others,” she said.
However, the process will not af-
MILESTONE
KNH conducts first minimally
invasive kidney transplant
JOHN MUCHANGI/ A team of doctors
have conducted the first laparo-
scopic surgery to get a kidney from
a donor at Kenya National Hospital.
The surgeons made several small
incisions in the donor’s abdomen
and removed the kidney using sur-
gical instruments and a long, thin
tube with a camera at the end (lap-
aroscope).
The three-hour operation at the
KNH was led by urologists Dr Paul
Njogu and Dr Charles Waihenya.
The procedure was conducted
on Dickson Ndekei, who donated
his kidney to his cousin Dickson
Njorogeyson.
Traditionally, Ndekei, a healthy
donor, would have undergone a
major operation where the kidney
fect Unesco heritage sites like Fort
Jesus.
Bashir said other counties set to
take over museums are, Wajir, Narok,
Garissa, Isiolo and Marsabit.
“We are officially transferring the
museum of Trans Nzoia, sitting on
33 hectares of land because we are
implementing what is stated in the
Fourth Schedule of the Constitution,”
she said.
“This should have been done a long
time ago. It is a step at a time and
right now we are focusing on the
first seven counties. Trans Nzoia is
the first county but we have six more
counties to go.”
The transfer of museums to the
counties comes at a time when IG-
RTC concluded a validation exercise
of devolved functions.
The exercise held in Naivasha, Na-
kuru county, ended on Wednesday.
would be removed through a large
incision.
The minimally invasive surgery is
carried out in a small incision.
“We are moving from the tradi-
tional open method to a far more
advanced modern frontier,” Njogu
said.
“For the open one, it leaves a scar,
but with this method it is barely no-
ticeable and therefore aesthetically
appealing. It takes less time thereby
reducing the turnaround time with
better clinical outcomes.”
The procedure has a shorter recov-
ery period and the complication rate
is low. In addition, the quality and
function of the transplanted kidneys
are excellent.
Njorogeyson, the recipient, was
Trans Nzoia
Governor George
Natembeya
during the
handover of
Kitale Museum
on Thursday
/HANDOUT
It brought together governors,
principal secretaries and IGRTC.
The national government set a
deadline of this month to transfer
all pending devolved functions and
value assets to county governments.
The July 1 deadline is to have re-
sources and assets follow the trans-
ferred function.
Last year, the national govern-
ment transferred library functions
to counties, where 61 libraries were
handed over to various county gov-
ernments with a budget of Sh450
million.
“We have up to July 1 this year to
have resources follow the functions
transferred. We believe the counties
have the capacity and capabilities to
run the libraries and the museums,”
Bashir said.
“We are headed in the right direc-
tion and today is the birth of a new
Dickson Njorogeyson at KNH on Thursday /KNH
diagnosed with chronic kidney fail-
ure last year.
He always felt tired and worn out
after work and could not sleep well.
These, Njorogeyson thought, were
normal signs and symptoms of dia-
betes, which he has had since 2004.
He said his eyes also turned yel-
era. Trans Nzoia will show other
counties that this transfer function
is very doable.”
Devolution PS Teresia Mbaika said
President William Ruto’s govern-
ment is committed to transferring
all pending devolved functions as
dictated by the Constitution.
She said the commitment shown
by Trans Nzoia shows that counties
are ready to undertake the functions.
“I want to give the commitment of
the government that this is not just
going to happen to museums alone
but to all the remaining functions,”
Mbaika said.
IGRTC chairperson Kithinji Kiragu
said the national government will
gazette all remaining unbundled
devolved functions before March.
The agency has identified 12 sec-
tors as still remaining.The sectors
include trade, education, health,
regional development authorities;
tourism, wildlife and culture; agri-
culture, health, energy, lands, public
works; housing and urban develop-
ment, education and environment
and disaster management.
“We would like to urge other min-
istries, departments and agencies
to follow the example of the State
Department for Culture, Heritage
and Arts.”
PS UMMI BASHIR
It is a step at a time
and right now we
are focusing on the
first seven counties
lowish, while his sight was blurry.
Njorogeyson then went to PCEA
Kikuyu Hospital but was referred
to KNH.
KNH CEO Evanson Kamuri said
the hospital will improve the oper-
ational efficiency of its kidney trans-
plant programme.
Friday, February 9, 2024
DIRE SITUATION
Gas blast victims
need help, says
Nairobi Hospital
KIPLANGAT KIRUI/ Private sector
players have been urged to extend
emergency and medical support to
victims of Embakasi gas explosion.
The Nairobi Hospital CEO James
Nyamongo said the situation is dire
and needs private sector players to
chip in.
Nairobi Hospital conducted a
three-day free medical care and
support to the victims.
The team of specialists set up a
make shift camp at the Embakasi
Health Centre.
Consultations, dressing,
specialised wound care and related
medication were some of the
services provided.
Some cases were however
referred for further check ups such
as x-rays.
“When an emergency strikes, it
is everyone’s business to see to it
that our people are assisted. The
collaboration between public and
private sector players is best seen
during a crisis,” Nyamongo said.
The Nairobi Hospital’s Accidents
and Emergency manager David
Abaya said more than 500 were
attended to.
“Some of the people who came
for assistance could not walk to
this place because of the injuries
sustained last week. We had to send
our ambulances to fetch them from
their homes and Embakasi Social
Hall, where they are camping,” he
said.
Mercy Gakendu’s (not her real
name) three-year old baby’s chest
has been aching since the blast but
had not been attended to until the
Nairobi Hospital medical experts
arrived.
NO, THANK YOU
ODM members
in Kwale slam
housing project
SHABAN OMAR/ Kwale ODM members
have criticised plans by the Kenya
Kwanza to implement the affordable
housing project in the county.
President William Ruto is
expected to launch the project in
various parts of the region over the
weekend.
The projects are set to be
implemented at the White House
in Diani and Mabokoni villages
in Gombato-Bongwe wards in
Msambweni subcounty.
Kwale ODM chairman Hassan
Mwanyoha said the project will
benefit only a few individuals.
He accused Ruto of violating the
rights of the people whose lands the
project will be implemented.
“Both parcels of lands that
have been identified for the
implementation of the project are
community lands set aside for
specific purposes; White House was
to serve as a market centre while
the land in Mabokoni was a grazing
area for cattle farmers in Mabokoni,”
Mwanyoha said.
Friday, February 9, 2024
NEWS GENERAL
MARCH 15
Court to finally deliver judgment
in Jowie, Maribe murder case
Duo has been on trial since 2018 with the prosecution having called 44 witnesses
SUSAN MUHINDI
@TheStarKenya
The judgment in the murder case
against journalist Jacqueline Mari-
be and her former boyfriend Jowie
Irungu is set to be delivered Friday
after the date was revised.
High Court judge Grace Nzioka
had been scheduled to deliver the
judgment on March 15 but following
consent by parties, it was reviewed
to February 9. The judgement has
previously been adjourned twice.
The first time trial judge Nzioka
was indisposed.
The second time, Maribe, through
her advocate Katwa Kigen, told court
she fell ill, leaving the court with no
option other than to set a fresh date
for judgement.
Maribe is facing the murder charge
LYING TO COURT?
Muturi denies claims of CEO
Gitiri holding eight public jobs
SUSAN MUHINDI/ The office of the At-
torney General has dismissed claims
of acting Council of Legal Education
CEO Jennifer Gitiri holding eight
public jobs.
In response to a case filed by
Nakuru-based Dr Gikenyi Magara,
the AG’s Human Resource director
Ernest Alela said claims that Gitiri
represents the Attorney General in
the National Council for Law Report-
ing, Witness Protection Agency and
Victim Protection Board are not true.
He said Gikenyi has never written
to the office of the Attorney General
to seek any information regarding
the representation of the AG in the
said public entities.
He has accused him of deliberately
lying to the court.
This, Alela says is a calculated
move to obstruct and interfere with
the administration of justice.
Gikenyi filed the case at the High
Court last year claiming that Gitiri
has been drawing salaries and allo-
cations from eight public jobs.
Gikenyi wanted the court to issue
orders prohibiting Gitiri from sitting
as a board member or employee of
the Council of Legal Education, Ken-
ya Law Reporting Council, Kenya
Revenue Authority, Witness Protec-
tion Agency and Victim Protection
Agency.
The petitioner told the court that
Gitiri holds positions including Dep-
uty Director, Assets Recovery Agency,
acting CEO Council of Legal Educa-
tion, Corporate Secretary Assets Re-
covery Agency and Acting Secretary
Council of Legal Education.
He said she also sits on the Board
THE-STAR.CO.KE 9
At the initial stages of the case, Ma-
ribe was sure of her innocence to a
point she told Justice James Wakiaga
that she might only be convicted of
the offence of being in love.
There is no such offence under the
law. She made the remarks at a time
Justice Wakiaga was handling their
application for bail.
Wakiaga in appreciating the fact
that ‘love can make you do some very
strange things’ made reference to
the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
“I am told that in the Bible, one
alongside her former lover Jowie. It Adam knowing very well the law of
is alleged that the pair on the night God and the punishment for eating
of September 19, 2018 at unknown the forbidden fruit, for the love of his
time at Lamuria Gardens Apartment wife, Adam went ahead and ate the
Kitale Lane off Dennis Pritt Road, in same so that they can die together
Kilimani area within Nairobi county, if they must.”
jointly with others not before court The murder of Kimani pricked the
murdered Monica Kimani. heart of the nation more so on how
Her body was found in a bathtub it was committed. It generated a lot
with her throat slit. Kimani, 27, was of public interest both in the main-
a holder of a Diploma in Internation- stream and social media.
al Relations from Kenya Polytechnic. Maribe at the time had just been
She did her internship in the Ken- promoted to the position of Friday
yan Embassy in Juba, South Sudan prime time news anchor on Citizen
and was at the time of her death TV.
managing her father’s company In his defense, Jowie denied his
MililePaul General Trading Company. involvement in the murder. He told
The duo have been on trial since the court that the stained shorts be-
2018 with the prosecution having ing used to nail him in the case were
called 44 witnesses to prove their not his. The shorts are part of the 124
case. If found guilty, Maribe and exhibits used by the prosecution to
Jowie’s penalty will be death sen- prove their case.
tence or a long period of imprison- It is the same one that had a blood
Jacque Maribe and Jowie Irungu in court /FILE ment. stain believed to be that of Kimani.
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF WEST POKOT
P.O. Box 222-30600, KAPENGURIA
info@westpokot.co.ke, www.westpokot.co.ke
of Directors of the Kenya Law Re- COUNTY TREASURY
porting Council, Victim Protection
Agency and Kenya Revenue Authori- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR FY 2024/2025-2026/27 MTEF PERIOD
ty as a Representative of KLRC.
He asked the court to stop Gitiri The County Government of West Pokot is in the process of preparing budget estimates for the Financial Year
2024/2025-2026/2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework. In accordance with article 201(a) of the Constitution
from drawing allowances for sitting which calls for openness, accountability and public participation in financial matters, the County Government hereby
on those institutions’ boards until invites all Members of the Public, County Development Partners, County Professionals, Civil Society Members and any
the case is heard and determined other interest groups for public participation on budget proposals for the Financial Year 2024/25. The meetings will be
But the AG in response says Gitiri held across all the County wards from 20th - 21st February 2024.
is remunerated one salary by the of- Priority areas contained in the Annual Development Plan for FY 2024/2025 will guide the identification of projects and
fice of the Attorney General. Programmes to be implemented. The forums will be held on the dates and venues indicated in the schedule below;
In addition, Alela said Gitiri only
holds the position at CLE in acting Dates Day Ward Venue
capacity. 20/02/2024 Tuesday Kapenguria Mtello Hall
He said in September last year, 20/02/2024 Tuesday Mnagei Tartar ELCK Church
there was staff unrest at the Coun- 20/02/2024 Tuesday Siyoi Siyoi Centre
cil of Legal Education which even- 20/02/2024 Tuesday Lelan Kabichbich Centre
tually led to the resignation of the 20/02/2024 Tuesday Suam Asilong A.I.C
then-acting CEO/Secretary of the 20/02/2024 Tuesday Tapach Ward Administrator’s Office
council, Mary Mutugi.
20/02/2024 Tuesday Chepareria Mercy Vocational Centre
The council at the time also didn’t
20/02/2024 Tuesday Batei Sebit Catholic Church
have a chairperson following the res-
ignation of Prof Githu Muigai. 20/02/2024 Tuesday Riwo Ward Administrator’s Office
The council was left without a 20/02/2024 Tuesday Kodich Orolwo Catholic church
CEO and council chairperson. This 21/02/2024 Wednesday Sook Chepnyal Catholic Church Hall
necessitated immediate intervention. 21/02/2024 Wednesday Sekerr Chepkondol Centre
What followed was the President 21/02/2024 Wednesday Lomut Chemaley Trading Centre
on October 6, last year appointing
Prof Collins Odote as the chairper- HE SAID 21/02/2024
21/02/2024
Wednesday
Wednesday
Masol
Weiwei
Tikit Trading Centre
Sigor Social Hall
son of the council.
Three days later, Gitiri was nom-
GIKENYI 21/02/2024 Wednesday Endugh chemwapit trading centre
inated for consideration by the HAS NEVER 21/02/2024
21/02/2024
Wednesday
Wednesday
Kasei
Alale
Chepkondol Dispensary
Alale Ward Administrator’s Office
Council of Legal Education to be
appointed to manage the council.
WRITTEN TO 21/02/2024 Wednesday Kiwawa Mbaru Evangelical Lutheran Church
She would manage it temporarily THE OFFICE 21/02/2024 Wednesday Kapchok Konyao Cultural Centre
pending the recruitment of a CEO for
a period not exceeding six months. OF THE Written submission/Memoranda may be submitted to any of the following offices; Ward Administrator’s offices and
Department of Finance and Economic Planning or submission to planning@westpokot.go.ke to be received not later
The AG decided to nominate Gitiri
who as a deputy director in a state
ATTORNEY than 23rd February, 2024.
corporation has sufficient exposure GENERAL TO HON. JOSHUA LORIONG’ONG’AR RUTTO
to handle the situation then.
He emphasizes that Gitiri’s role
SEEK ANY COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER - FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING
was only to provide support. INFORMATION
 10
NEWS GENERAL
SH2,500 EACH
Ministry to distribute 12.5m bags
of subsidised fertiliser, says PS
Says 7.5 million bags will be issued for the long rains and five million for the short rains
AGATHA NGOTHO
@AgathaNgotho
The government will distribute 12.5
million bags of fertiliser for the long
and short rain seasons.
Agriculture Principal Secretary
Kipronoh Ronoh said 7.5 million
bags will be issued for the long rains
and five million for the short rains.
He spoke during the opening of
TRANSITION TO LA NINA
There’s chance of rain this weekend,
but El Nino is waning – weatherman
JOHN MUCHANGI/ Most parts of the
country are expected to be sunny
and dry heading to next week, as
the El Nino weather pattern contin-
ues to decay.
The Meteorological department
said only a few areas are likely to
receive some little rain. Most parts of
the country, except, northern Kenya,
will remain dry.
Dr David Gikungu, in a five
day-forecast that ends on Monday,
said there is a chance of light show-
ers in Ukambani, Nairobi and Cen-
tral Kenya on Friday and Saturday.
“A few areas in South Rift Valley,
Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands East
and West of Rift Valley, South-east-
ern lowlands, Coast and Northeast-
ern Kenya are likely to receive light
to moderate rainfall,” he said.
Areas around Lake Victoria could
the International Smallholder Em-
powerment and Agribusiness Pro-
motion workshop in Nairobi.
The SHEP seeks to change farmers’
mindset from grow and sell to grow
to sell, and increase the incomes of
small-scale farmers and boost value
addition.
The five-year project (December
2020-December 2025) is being im-
plemented by the national and coun-
ty governments in partnership with
JICA and targets 6,000 farmers in 20
also have showers in the afternoon
and night.
The light rains and cloudy con-
ditions are a result of the El Nino
conditions.
However, weather experts around
the world have said the current El
Nino is already decaying and may
transition to a weak La Nina in the
second half of 2024.
While El Niño is characterised by
above-average rains in Kenya, La
Niña is a climate pattern that tends to
occur soon after El Niño and brings
on opposite dry effects.
The US Climate Prediction Center
said although El Nino, which influ-
ences weather around the world, is
losing its strength, it will continue
to have an impact on the weather in
the coming months.
The current weather conditions
THE-STAR.CO.KE
counties. The PS said from January to
February, the government will dis-
tribute the subsidised fertiliser sold
for Sh2,500 per 50kg bag in Narok,
Bomet, Nyamira and Kisii counties.
From March to May, the pro-
gramme will target North Rift coun-
ties including Nandi, Uasin Gishu,
Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru.
“From May to June, we have sched-
uled to distribute fertiliser to the
Central region counties of Nyeri, Ki-
rinyaga, Murang’a, Meru and the rest.
are favourable for the development
of aflatoxin, which causes kidney
problems.
Last week, the Kenyan government
launched two industrial mycotoxin
decontamination plants that will
help reduce aflatoxin contamina-
tion in grains like maize and pulses.
Agriculture PS Paul Rono said the
mycotoxin decontamination solu-
tion is an ozone-based post-harvest
industrial plant, that will eliminate
at least 95 per cent of aflatoxin con-
tamination in grains.
“This industrial plant solution will
eliminate 95 per cent of aflatoxin
contamination in grains, pulses,
nuts and other food commodities,”
he said.
“It will highly boost food security
programme in the country.” Afla-
toxins are naturally occurring toxic
Agriculture
Cabinet
Secretary
Mithika Linturi
flags off
subsidised
fertiliser in
Nakuru on
January 31
/HANDOUT
In October, we will target counties in
the semi-arid areas including Wajir,
Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit and ar-
eas of Turkana,” he said.
Ronoh said the government is dis-
tributing close to 2.2 million bags
of fertiliser to counties that are cur-
rently planting their long rains crop.
“Currently, we have about 1,000
lorries on the roads ferrying fer-
tiliser to be distributed to farmers
across the country. For the last two
weeks, we have managed to distrib-
A flooded road in downtown Nairobi on September 5, 2020 /VICTOR IMBOTO
substances found in maize, ground-
nuts and other crops.
In April 2004, one of the largest
aflatoxicosis outbreaks occurred in
rural Kenya, resulting in 317 cases
and 125 deaths.
The two industrial mycotoxin
decontamination plants were do-
Friday, February 9, 2024
ute 150,000 bags of fertiliser and we
intend to clear distribution within
the next one-and-half months of 2.5
million bags across the country,” the
PS said.
This week, county commissioners,
senior officials from the government
and CEOs of Ministry of Agriculture
agencies have been launching fer-
tiliser distribution across the country.
“This week we will distribute fer-
tiliser in Makueni and Kirinyaga
counties and next week in the Cen-
tral parts of the country,” Ronoh said.
In terms of farmer engagement,
the PS said farmer registration is
still ongoing and so far 6.4 million
farmers have been listed.
He said there have been challeng-
es in farmer registration including
wrong data and information that
some farmers gave during the pro-
cess.
“Farmers had the misinformation
that they were registering for the
purposes of taxation and so they did
not give the right information. Farm-
ers whom we have engaged and had
challenges in accessing the subsidy
fertiliser we realised that they gave
wrong information. Now, we have
a team that is trying to harmonise
so that the farmers would get the
right bags of fertiliser as per their
acreages,” the PS said.
New farmers can register by press-
ing *616*3# to get into the system
and they will get an alert.
“Then the county government rep-
resentative on the ground will visit
the farmer to confirm their acreages,
existence and also to capture other
information to do with their geo-
metrical location so that we can get
it right,” he added.
The PS said the other challenge has
been long distances farmers cover to
access the fertliser. He said last time
the distribution was being done at
the National Cereals and Produce
Board depots across the country
but the distance was a challenge
for many farmers.
“We are now distributing it closer
to the farmers and moving to the
wards. We are covering the 1, 450
wards across the country. We also
have other selling stores,” Rono said.
nated by Trademark Africa cooper-
ation through Global Affairs Canada
funding.
The Trademark Africa Coopera-
tion donated them to the Ministry
of Agriculture as an aid for trade
intervention through technical as-
sistance.
Friday, February 9, 2024
NEWS GENERAL
PLANETARY CRISIS
Over 6,000 delegates to
meet in Nairobi as threats
facing planet escalate
Fifth assembly took place in Kenya from February 28 in 2022
GILBERT KOECH
@TheStarKenya
More than 6,000 delegates are ex-
pected to converge in Nairobi to-
wards the end of the month to dis-
cuss challenges facing the planet and
offer solutions.
The delegates from the 193 UN
member states, including heads of
state and government, ministers of
environment and other high-rank-
ing dignitaries and UN officials, will
put their heads together for the sixth
session of the United Nations Envi-
ronment Assembly (UNEA-6 ).
The Assembly takes place from
February 26 to March 1, at Unep
headquarters in Gigiri under the
presidency of the Kingdom of Moroc-
co. Its theme is “Effective, inclusive,
and sustainable multilateral actions
to tackle climate change, biodiversity
loss, and pollution”.
Environment CS Soipan Tuya said
on Thursday that Kenya is privileged
to host UNEA every two years in Nai-
robi by virtue of the country being
the global headquarters of Unep,
which is one of the two UN agencies
headquartered in the Global South.
The other is UN Habitat, which is
also headquartered in Nairobi.
Tuya held a press conference at the
Serena Hotel on preparations being
put in place for the Assembly.
Unep executive director Inger
Andersen and Unep’s director for
Governance Affairs Radhika Ochalik
were present.
Unep’s Governance Affairs director Radhika Ochalik, Environment CS Soipan Tuya and Unep executive director Inger
Andersen at Serena on Thursday /GILBERT KOECH
Tuya said the country is acceler-
ating the transformation of Kenya’s
linear waste management system
into a circular economy.
“As a result, Kenya will hold a side
event on circular economy during
UNEA-6 to appreciate the strides the
country has made in implementing
waste policies to address pollution
control, best practices in circular
economy, and extended producer
responsibilities,” she said.
Tuya said the current administra-
tion is clear on the need for solutions
to environmental challenges.
“Kenya’s National Landscapes and
Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, the
anchor blueprint for the flagship 15
billion national tree programme that
gave our country the first national
tree growing day (green holiday) on
November 13 last year, is one such
ambitious initiative that we are fully
committed to as a ministry and as a
government,” she said.
Tuya said the country is commit-
ted to achieving 30 per cent tree cov-
er by 2032 through the growing of
15 billion trees.
She said 30 per cent of that will
be fruit and fodder species to con-
tribute to the country’s food and
nutritional security and household
incomes.
Tuya said delegates will all be re-
quested to take time off and grow
trees at sites to be communicated.
President William Ruto, who is
also the Chairperson of the Com-
mittee of the African Union heads
of state and government on climate
change, will deliver the UNEA-6 Na-
THE-STAR.CO.KE
tional and Welcoming Statement on
February 29.
This will be during the high-lev-
el segment that will be attended by
several other visiting heads of state,
government, and dignitaries. It is
not clear how many heads of state
will attend.
“During the entire duration of
UNEA-6, from February 26th to
March 1st, there will be a showcase
of Kenya’s rich cultural heritage, cli-
mate action potential, and touristic
offerings to visiting delegates at the
venue. We thank Unep for allowing
us to set up Kenya House at the ven-
ue,” Tuya said.
Andersen said they are expecting
more than 70 ministers.
Issues around mining, water, use
of fertilisers, reforms of the financial
sector to align them with sustain-
ability, solar radiation modification,
and the global biodiversity frame-
work will be discussed during the
assembly.
“We currently have 20 draft res-
olutions and two draft decisions
submitted for countries to discuss,”
he said.
Andersen said as preparations get
underway, it is clear that the world
has an environmental must-do list.
“This is a must-do list for tack-
ling what we at Unep call the triple
planetary crisis: the crisis of climate
change, nature and biodiversity loss,
and pollution and waste. This crisis
disproportionately impacts the Af-
rican continent, including Kenya.”
Andersen said the impacts are
here and growing.
POSITIVE RESULTS
A researcher stores vials of the R21 malaria vaccine /OXFORD
Experts: Adopt new
malaria vaccine, it’s
more effective, cheaper
JOHN MUCHANGI/ Researchers have
advised Kenya to adopt the new ma-
laria vaccine whose positive results
were released last week.
The vaccine was partly tested in
Kenya and the results published last
week showed it has an average of 78
per cent efficacy over 12 months.
Dr Damaris Matoke, the deputy
director of Biotech Programme at
the Kenya Medical Research Insitute,
said R21 will complement the exist-
ing vaccine, which is already being
used in Western Kenya.
“As researchers, we strongly rec-
ommend the country to adopt it. It is
definitely cheaper and will be a good
addition to the existing vaccine.”
Dr Matoke said the two vaccines
have to be used alongside other pre-
vention methods such as bed nets
and vector control methods.
She spoke in Nairobi during
a workshop by the Zero Malaria
Campaign Coalition (ZMCC), which
brings together the Ministry of
Health and other key partners.
The coalition is planning a malar-
ia campaign supported by Malaria
No More UK (MNMUK), a team of
experts in communications and ad-
vocacy based in London and Nairobi.
“Kenya has made great strides in
fighting malaria and has a vision to
be malaria-free by 2030. However,
malaria still has a significant impact
on its citizens,” Dr Matoke said.
“We are at a critical moment in the
malaria fight with progress threat-
ened by challenges in funding gaps,
drug and insecticide resistance and
climate change, among others.”
She said the greatest burden from
malaria in Kenya is felt by children
under five years and pregnant wom-
en.
Kenya has made strides in regain-
ing progress following Covid-19 dis-
ruptions. Although not yet returned
to pre-pandemic levels, malaria
incidence and mortality decreased
between 2021 and 2022 (WMR 2023 ).
The RTSS is the first vaccine rec-
ommended to prevent malaria in
11
children. It is delivered through
routine immunisation programmes
alongside other childhood vaccines
in public and private health facilities
in 25 subcounties in Western.
Initially, the vaccine schedule ad-
opted in Kenya was three primary
doses given to children at six, seven
and nine months and a fourth dose
at 24 months.
However, the Ministry of Health
broadened the eligibility for the first
dose to between six and less than 12
months of age, with the second and
third doses at least one month apart.
The fourth dose is administered from
when a child is 24 months, with an
upper age limit of three years.
Kenya has yet to adopt the R21
vaccine, although it is partly being
tested in Kilifi.
Trial investigators last week re-
ported on average 78 per cent vac-
cine efficacy over the first year of fol-
low-up in Kilifi and four other sites
in Burkina Faso, Mali and Tanzania,
where tests are ongoing.
The results relate to children aged
five to 17 months, the age range,
which is studied for most malaria
vaccines.
The full results of the phase III trial
have been published in the Lancet
journal.
“No other vaccine has reported over
55 per cent efficacy in the same age
group,” said a statement from the
researchers, who include Dr Mainga
Hamaluba, the principal investigator
in Kilifi.
Its 78 per cent efficacy means that
if 100 children were vaccinated and
exposed to the malaria parasite, ap-
proximately 78 of them would be
protected from getting sick, while 22
might still contract malaria, despite
being vaccinated.
The researchers also reported no
serious adverse events linked to im-
munisation.
“R21/Matrix-M vaccine was well
tolerated, with injection site pain
and fever as the most frequent ad-
verse events,” they said.
 12
NEWS BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY
Kenya hit by 1.2bn cyber threats 160.18
in three months, says report
Communications Authority data shows actual attacks were 860 million in 2023
Broadcast and Telecommunications PS Edward Kisiang’ani speaks during the first African preparatory meeting for the
World Telecommunications and Development Conference, in Nairobi, on February 8 /WILLISH ADUR
ALFRED ONYANGO
@its_alfred_
Kenya witnessed increased cyber
threats in the three months period to
December with more than 1.2 billion
cases recorded.
This is from 123 million threats de-
tected in the previous quarter, repre-
senting a 943 per cent jump.
Latest Communications Authority
of Kenya report attributes the increase
to the enhancement of the country’s
cyber threat monitoring capabili-
ties, and the increased exploitation
of ‘system vulnerabilities’ fuelled by
increased deployment and use of In-
ternet devices.
Malware, brute force, web applica-
tion and mobile application attacks
stood at 13.2, 9.7, 0.07 and 0.05 million
cases, respectively.
“In response to the threats, the Na-
tional Cyber Security Centre issued
REDEMPTION
Kenya to get Sh240.7bn from World Bank by April
VICTOR AMADALA/Kenya is ex-
pected to receive a number of credit
facilities that will see the country
comfortably settle the inaugural
Eurobond debt due on June 24.
On Wednesday, the exchequer
gave holders of the $2 billion bond
taken in 2014 seven days to February
14 to submit claims, a bold move that
has tickled investors.
The maximum amount that the
government will repurchase will be
determined by how much it raises in
an offering of new securities that will
be priced on February 12.
Yields on the bond dropped to 10.6
per cent from 16 per cent, a mark of
renewed confidence in the country’s
8.06 million advisories in the period
under review,” the report reads.
It represented a 44.4 per cent in-
crease compared to the 5.6 million that
were issued in the previous quarter.
“During the period, system mis-
configuration attacks were the most
prevalent, which aligns with the with
global trends in cyber threat activity
where malware attacks, and more
specifically ransomware, were most
rampant,” states CA
Commenting on the figures broad-
casting and telecommunications PS
Edward Kisiang’ani said the advisories
were directed to various actors within
the critical infrastructure ecosystem,
warning them of the impending at-
tacks and guiding them on what rem-
edies they should institute.
Key targets include Internet Service
Providers (ISPs), cloud service provid-
ers, government and the education
sector. He said the probable impact on
the economy would be enormous in
the event of any successful cyber-at-
ability to repay the loan that has in
the past made investors coy.
Beneath Kenya’s confidence is a
series of multilateral loans expected
to pour into the exchequers accounts
by April.
Top of all is the $1.5 billion (Sh240.7
billion) to be disbursed by the World
Bank between March and April.
The amount is part of $4.5 billion
(Sh722.3 billion) commitment made
by the global lender in November last
year.
The lender announced that, over
the next three fiscal years (FY24-
FY26), the International Development
Association (IDA) and International
Bank for Reconstruction and De-
THE-STAR.CO.KE
tacks on the aforementioned sectors.
Yearly data by CA for the year
2022/23 shows Kenya recorded 860
million cyber-attacks in 2023, the
highest yet, witnessing an upsurge
in the frequency, sophistication and
scale of cyber-threats targeted at the
country’s critical information infra-
structure (CIIs).Of the attacks, 79 per
cent were a result of cyber criminals
exploiting flaws and vulnerabilities
in organisations’ internal controls,
system procedures and information
systems, which they used to gain
unauthorised access to the computer
systems.
To address increased cyber security
threats in the country, Kisiang’ani said
the government is upgrading threat
detection systems as well as train-
ing key personnel to deal with such
threats.
“In light of the increased complexity
and sophistication of cyber threats, we
also remain at hand to collaborate with
countries in the region in mitigating
velopment (IBRD) would provide $3
billion and $1.5 billion respectively.
The International Finance Corpo-
ration (IFC) will provide roughly $1
(Sh160.5 billion) in investments and
MIGA guarantees can amount to
around $500 million (Sh80 billion).
“Subject to the World Bank Ex-
ecutive Directors approval of new
operations, and to factors which may
affect the Bank’s lending capacity,
this implies a total financial package
of $12 billion (Sh1.93 trillion) over the
next three years,’’ World Bank said.
Yesterday, top exchequer bosses
told the Star that the World Bank
loan is just ‘an icing on the cake’ of a
number of financial relives the coun-
cross-border cyber threats within the
global realities we all experience,” said
the PS.He spoke in Nairobi during the
opening ceremony of the first African
preparatory meeting for the upcom-
ing 2025 World Telecommunications
Development Conference.
Organised by the International Tele-
communications Union (ITU), the fo-
rum seeks to champion various policy
and infrastructural reforms aimed at
accelerating the bridging of digital
innovation divide.
This is mainly to ensure equitable
digital future for all. Pushing the
African agenda through the African
Telecommunications Union (ATU), Af-
rican countries representatives during
the meeting committed to head to the
conference with common positions
that will safeguard the interests of the
continent. ATU secretary general John
Omo said the Union would advocate
for favourable policies and regulations,
as well as for improved investment in
the development of telecommunica-
tions in the continent.
“We will also seek to presents Af-
rica’s interests to ensure the African
voice shapes the global telecommuni-
cation/ICT agenda,” Omo said.
COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY
During the
period, system
misconfiguration
attacks were the
most prevalent,
which aligns with
the with global
trends
try has received in past months.
Kenya has received disbursements
totalling just over $1 billion Sh160 (bil-
lion) in the last two months from IMF
and Trade Development Bank (TDB).
“We are very confident about
handling the Eurobond debt that has
posed financial risks to the country.
Kenya has earned its rightful space in
the international debt market,’’ Na-
tional Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo said.
He added that government man-
dated Citigroup Global Markets and
Standard Bank of South Africa as joint
book runners to arrange a series of
investor calls, following which a sev-
en-year dollar-bond will be issued
subject to market conditions.
Friday, February 9, 2024
THE DATA
The indicative value of
the shilling to the dollar
Kenya’s shilling remained weak against
the US dollar on Thursday amid high
demand for the
dollar by importers
financial market
F O R E X E X C H A N G E R AT E S
Currency Mean
US DOLLAR 160.1877
EURO 172.7704
STG POUND 202.3411
SA RAND 8.4799
KES / USHS 23.8720
KES / TSHS 15.8876
AE DIRHAM 43.6122
JPY (100) 107.7943
IND RUPEE 1.9302
CHINESE YUAN 22.2627
NSE BIGGEST WINNERS
Price Change (%)
CENTUM 8.76 9.23
DIAMOND TRUST 48.80 6.09
KAKUZI 385.00 5.77
JUBILEE 189.75 5.27
NBV 2.40 4.35
N S E B I G G E ST LOS E R S
Price Change (%)
CROWN PAINT 36.05 9.87
TOTAL 17.05 9.55
EXPRESS 3.24 8.47
SANLAM 6.06 8.18
FAHARI I-REIT 6.02 5.05
USE CURIOSITY TO KEEP
MEETINGS ON TRACK
Are your meetings chronically
disengaging—or worse, easily
derailed? It may be time to
introduce curiosity into the agenda
to keep people focused and
things on track. First, direct the
team’s attention to identifying
the problem you’re there to solve.
Rather than doing this for them,
ask everyone in the room to define
the goal of the meeting in one
sentence. Clarifying a collective
mission at the outset will help
align team members and reduce
confusion or irrelevant sidebars.
Then let your employees do
the talking. Just because you’re
leading the meeting doesn’t
mean you have to dominate it.
Show curiosity, ask others for
their opinions before sharing
your own, and actively listen.
This is a powerful way to engage
and empower people. Finally,
offer feedback—but avoid
judgmental language. Judgment
is the opposite of curiosity and
can discourage and demotivate
your team, leading to stilted,
unproductive meetings.
Friday, February 9, 2024
NEWS BUSINESS
SEAMLESS
Airtel axes withdrawal code when receiving money
VICTOR AMADALA/Airtel Money
customers can now receive money
directly from any network without
the withdrawal code that carried a
seven-day validity.
The move effective February 6,
follows the Central Bank of Kenya’s
(CBK) and industry players collab-
orative efforts towards seamless
mobile money cross operations as
outlined in the CBK National Pay-
ments Strategy 2022-2025.
The National Payments Strategy
requires all mobile money provid-
ers to ensure a seamless customer
services across networks to allow
on-network and off-network
direct transactions.
The changes allow a customer
registered on any mobile money
platform to send money directly to
someone on another network
STANDOFF
Kifwa warns of strike over KPA’s
end-to-end logistics service plan
The authority plans to partner with shipping lines and private companies to deliver cargo
MARTIN MWITA
@MwitaMartin
Clearing and forwarding agents
are threatening to paralyse ports
and border operations unless the
Kenya Ports Authority stops it plans
to venture into transport logistics.
This comes ahead of a port
stakeholders meeting next Tues-
day, where KPA is set to meet the
clearing agents, transporters, cus-
toms officials, shipping lines among
other port stakeholders, to deliber-
ate on a way forward.
Clearing agents and transport-
ers are opposed to plans by KPA to
offer end-to-end logistics services,
which will see foreign companies
including global shipping lines, tap
into the last mile logistics business.
According to KPA, it is target-
ing cargoes meant for the transit
markets, hugely served by local
This applies to amounts as low as
Sh1 and as high as Sh250,000 per
transaction daily.
A customer sending money will
now simply select ‘send money”
to any network, enter the number
of the recipient to complete the
transaction which will immediately
reflect in the wallet of the recipient
- without a withdrawal code.
Airtel Money managing director,
Anne Kinuthia-Otieno welcomed
the new process describing it as
a big benefit to Kenyans as cus-
tomers will now enjoy seamless
experience at affordable costs.
“Sending money is the biggest
use case in Kenya and having a
seamless, direct wallet to wallet
transfer of money across networks
is a big benefit to Kenyans.’’
Airtel Kenya MD Ashish Malhotra
and regional transporters; a move
that industry players say will push
out homegrown businesses out of
the trade. KPA is keen to see goods
delivered to the doorstep of a client
straight from the Port of Mombasa
either through a bill of lading or
merchant haulage, at an extra fee,
giving shipping lines an upper hand
over local firms.
Already, it has engaged Chinese
international container transporta-
tion and shipping company –COS-
CO shipping lines, a subsidiary of
COSCO Shipping Holdings.
“We want to give them an option
where importers can bypass bro-
kers and ensure timely delivery and
returns which means lower freight
costs and avoiding demurrage costs.
We are just facilitating,” KPA man-
aging director Willliam Ruto told
the Star. However, port stakehold-
ers have opposed the move, which
is also seen to have a potential neg-
ative impact on the Standard Gauge
THE-STAR.CO.KE
said the initiative is a major benefit
for Kenyans as they can now enjoy
the convenience of real-time
transactions which has cut out
limiting user intermediary steps.
In addition, the mobile money
market will expand by allowing
A past strike by
clearing agents
and truck drivers
that paralysed
operations at the
Malaba border
/FILE
Railway freight services.
It is likely to affect over 100 con-
tracts that are in place for last-mile
cargo delivery with major trans-
porters in the country, from Inland
Container Depots of Nairobi and
Naivasha. According to the Kenya
International Freight and Ware-
housing Association (Kifwa), the
move is a threat to local firms as
it will favour multinationals with
financial muscles, with shipping
lines expected to seal off the busi-
ness from the point of loading at
international ports to the last mile.
The association wants freight
services beyond port facilities be
left to Kenya Railways (SGR) and
private sector players, insisting KPA
should stick to its mandate of port
operations.
“We are going to stage a major
strike and paralyse all cargo han-
dling activities if KPA moves out of
its mandate,” national chairman
Roy Mwanthi said.The Kenya Trans-
Airtel Kenya
managing
director Ashish
Malhotra during
the launch of 5G
network in the
country
/FILE
easy movement of money and
enhancing financial inclusion for all.
“I would also like to thank the
Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)
on the steps taken to ensure a
smooth transition on the new
guidelines,”he said.
porters Association (KTA) whose
members are huge cargo movers
in the country and the East African
Community is also concerned over
the move, but yet to make a con-
clusive decision as it awaits next
week’s meeting.
“There is a planned meeting with
KPA next week to discuss the same.
Nothing has been arrived at yet,”
KTA chief executive Mercy Ireri told
the Star yesterday.
A move to venture into the lo-
gistics business, Kifwa says, would
“kill” small businesses in the coun-
try. In a letter to the KPA chairman
Benjamin Tayari, received on Jan-
uary 15, Kifwa has called on the
authority to instead work with
shipping lines, customs agents,
freight forwarders, transporters
and private cargo handling facility,
with each port stakeholder playing
their role.
“We expect KPA to support and
align with the government’s Bot-
tom-Up Economic Transformation
Agenda that is focused on support-
ing local MSMEs and indigenous
businesses to thrive so as to cre-
ate jobs for the youths and build
household incomes,” the letter cop-
ied to the Competition Authority
of Kenya, Transport CS, his trade
counterpart, and the Chief of Staff,
reads in part.
DATA
100
The least number of
last- mile cargo
delivery contracts to be
affected
13
INFLATION
Living cost likely
to rise on costly
imports –CBK
MARTIN MWITA/ The cost of living
could further rise in the next three
months, the Central Bank of Kenya
has indicated, piling more pressure on
already struggling households.
To stem this the apex bank has
moved to institute monetary policies
aimed at lowering inflation, among
them being raising interest rates
where the Central Bank Rate (CBR)
has been increased from 12.50 per
cent to 13 per cent.
The projected possible rise in
the inflation, the measure of the
cost of living, is pegged mainly
on costly imports occasioned by
the weak shilling, which has seen
manufacturers and importers of
finished products continue to spend
more to ship in cargoes.
The shilling, which crossed the
Sh160 mark to the US dollar in mid-
January, remains volatile, amid a high
demand.
While CBK quoted the shilling at an
average 160.32 on Tuesday, banks
continue to sell a dollar at above
Sh162.
“The survey of the agriculture
sector conducted ahead of the
MPC (Monetary Policy Committee)
meeting revealed that respondents
expected inflation to increase in the
next three months, on account of
high import costs, partly due to the
depreciation of the exchange rate,”
CBK governor Kamau Thugge said.
The Monetary Policy Committee
met on Tuesday, which culminated
in the increase in CBK’s base lending
rate. Kenya’s overall inflation increased
to 6.9 percent in January 2024 from
6.6 percent in December 2023, and
remained sticky in the upper bound of
the government’s target range of five
per cent, with a flexible margin of 2.5
percent on either side in the event of
adverse shocks.
Food inflation increased to 7.9 per
cent in January 2024 from 7.7 per cent
in December 2023, largely reflecting
higher prices of a few non-vegetable
items, following reduced supply partly
attributed to seasonal factors.
Fuel inflation rose to 14.3 per cent
in January 2024 from 13.7 per cent in
December 2023, largely due to higher
electricity tariffs.
Non-food non-fuel (NFNF) inflation
increased to 3.6 per cent from 3.4 per
cent in December 2023, reflecting
seasonal increases in education
sector-related costs.
“The risks to inflation remain
elevated in the near term, reflecting
the impact of second-round effects
of the rise in fuel inflation, and pass-
through effects of exchange rate
depreciation,” Thugge said.
According to the Kenya National
Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the
general price level was 6.9 per cent
higher than that of January 2023,
despite last year’s January inflation
being at nine per cent.
“This was mainly driven by
increases in prices of commodities
under transport (10.6%), housing,
water, electricity, gas and other fuels
(9.7%); and food and non-alcoholic
beverages (7.9%) between January
2023 and January 2024,” KNBS DG
Macdonald Obudho said.
 14 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
REPUBLIC OF KENYA

PUBLIC NOTICE: INVITATION TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ON DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR THE SOCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT,
2023 AND THE DRAFT REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Social Health Insurance Act No. 16 of 2023 was enacted on the 19th October, 2023. The Act confers upon the Cabinet Secretary for Health, in consultation with the Board of the Social Health Authority to
make Regulations under sections 24, 30, 44(6), 46(2), 47 (5) and 50 (1) relating to various matters required to be prescribed under the Act, in particular, Implementation of the Primary Healthcare Fund, Imple-
mentation of the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, procedures for Operationalization of the Dispute Resolution Tribunal, Registration of Members to the Social Health Insurance Fund, Identification
of Beneficiaries, Claims and Benefits, Contributions and Empanelment and Contracting. To this end and pursuant to sections 24, 30, 44(6), 46(2), 47 (5) and 50 (1) of the Social Health Insurance Act;

IT IS NOTIFIED for information of the general public that the Cabinet Secretary for Health, in consultation with the Board of the Social Health Authority, has developed the following two (2) sets of draft regula-
tions to the Social Health Insurance Act:
1. The Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024
2. The Social Health Insurance (Dispute Resolution Tribunal) Regulations, 2024

FURTHER in compliance with Section 6 of the Statutory Instruments Act No. 23 of 2013 which require the regulation making authority to, prepare a regulatory impact statement about the proposed Regu-
lations, the Cabinet Secretary for Health has, through a Technical Working Group comprised of officers from the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, the Kenya Law Reform Commission, the National
Assembly and NHIF, prepared a Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed Regulations.
FURTHER AWARE THAT Article 10 of the Constitution as read with section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act No. 23 of 2013 require a regulation-making authority to undertake public participation and make
appropriate consultations with persons who are likely to be affected by proposed regulations. The provisions of section 5 further provide that the consultations envisaged under the Statutory Instruments Act
No. 23 of 2013 shall involve notification, by advertisement, of bodies that, or of organizations representative of persons who, are likely to be affected by the proposed instrument or invite submissions or partici-
pation in public hearings to be held concerning the proposed instruments.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to Article 10 of the Constitution and section 5 and 6 of the Statutory Instruments Act No. 23 of 2013, the Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with the Board of the Social Health
Authority, invites interested members of the public, stakeholders and organizations to submit any comments, views or make representations regarding the two (2) draft regulations and the draft Regulatory
Impact Statement.
The comments, views, representation and any written memoranda may be forwarded to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Nairobi; hand-delivered to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary on Afya House 7th
Floor, Nairobi; or emailed to regulations@health.go.ke ; to be received on or before, 9th February, 2024, at 5:00 pm. The two (2) sets of draft regulations and the draft Regulatory Impact Statement are available
at the following links: - https://www.health.go.ke
Additionally, and pursuant to the Statutory Instruments Act,2013, the Cabinet Secretary and the Social Health Authority plans to engage members of the public and stakeholders on the same through public
hearings. The purpose of the hearings shall be to get oral submissions on the draft Regulations and the Regulatory impact Statement to ensure that persons likely to be affected by the Statutory Instru-
ments have adequate opportunity to give their views on the Instruments. The Draft Regulations and Regulatory Impact Statement can be obtained from the Ministry’s website (https://www.health.go.ke/
social-health-regulations ) We therefore invite all stakeholders and members of the public for stakeholders’ engagement meetings which shall be held as follows:-

Region Morning (9:00am - 12:00pm) A fternoon (2:00am - 5:00pm)

Constituency Venue/Hall Constituency Venue/Hall Dates (February 2024)

11Coast Changamwe Changamwe Social Hall Jomvu Mikindani Social Hall 12th
Kisauni Kisauni Social Hall Likoni Likoni Social Hall 13th
Mvita Tononoka Social Hall Nyali Kongowea Social Hall (1) 14th
Lamu West Mwanaarafa Hall Lamu East Faza Social Hall 16th
Mwatate CDF Hall Mwatate Wundanyi CC County Hall 12th
Taveta Sub County ADM Hall Voi Voi CDF ( Dan Mwanzo Hall 13th
Matuga Kenya school of government Kinango Kenya school of government 15th
Lunga Lunga Rockstars village Msambweni Rockstars village 16th
Kilifi North Titanic Hotel Kilifi South CDF HALL 12th
Kaloleni Mariakani Social Hal Malindi Cleopatra Cinema Hall 13th
Ganze DCC’s Office Magarini MARAFA SOCIAL HAL 14th
Rabai Rabai Social Hall 15th
Garsen Marjan resort ltd Galole Milele Guest House 15th
Bura BCC Hall Bura 16th
Kaiti Kilungu - AIC Nunguni Kilome Kilome - Tangu Catholic Church - Salama 12th
Kibwezi West Kibwezi - Makindu County Hall Kibwezi East Makindu - Kambu Deliverance Church 13th
2 North Eastern Garissa Township Governmrnt Guest House 12th
Dadaab Dadaab Primary School 13th
Balambala Balambala Library Hall 14th
Lagdera Modagashe High School 15th
Fafi State Lodge 16th
Ijara Shones Secondary School 17th
Wajir East ICT Hall Wajir town 12th
Wajir South Habaswein National Library 13th
Tarbaj ICT Hall Tarbaj 14th
Wajir North ICT Hall bute 15th
Wajir West Wajir west CDF Hall 16th
Eldas Eldas Secondary School 17th
Mandera east Mandera Social service hall 12th
Mandera South Elwak social hall 13th
Lafey Lafey Primary sch hall 14th
Mandera North Racida Social Hall- Rhamu 15th
Mandera West Takaba CDF social Hall 16th
Banissa Midway Banisa social hall 17th
Moyale Holale Hotel And Resort 12th
North Horr North Hor Catholic Mission 13th
Saku Saku Catholic Hall 14th
Laisamis Laisamis Catholic Hall 15th
3 Eastern Isiolo Police Hall 12th
Garbatula Classic hotel 13th
Merti Mama Tore Hotel 14th
Buuri Muuna Hall North Imenti Meru Paramount Hotel 15th
Central Imenti Kamakia plaza South Imenti Roots Hotel 16th
Igembe North Victoria Hotel Igembe South Victoria Hotel 12th
Igembe Central Kangeta Multipurpose Hall Tigania west Kirindini Social Hall 13th
Tigania East DCC UURU HALL Tharaka Tharaka CDF Social Hall 14th
Chuka / Igambangombe Kathwana Social Hall Maara Maara CDF Social Hall 15th
Manyatta Talent Hall Runyenjes ACK KAGARI HALL 16th
Mbeere North Mbeere CDF HALL Mbeere South KIRITIRI CDF HALL 12th
Mwingi Central Mwingi Town - Mwingi Resource Centre Mwingi North KYUSO TOWN FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 13th
Mwingi West MIGWANI TOWN DELIVERANCE CHURCH Kitui East Zombe - AIC Church 14th
Kitui Central Kitui Town -Muilti Purpose Hall Kitui Rural Kwa Vonza - Constituency Hall 15th
Kitui South Mutomo -Chief’s Office Kitui West Kabati - Catholic Church 16th
Machakos Town Machakos Social Hall Mwala Kawaya Stadium - Masii 12th
Kangundo ABC Church Kalimani Matungulu ABC Church Matungulu 13th
Kathiani DC Kathiani Offices Hall Mavoko Mavoko Youth Centre 14th
Masinga CDF Grounds Masinga Yatta Kithendu Social Hall (Sofia) 15th
Mbooni Mbooni - Tawa Social Hall Makueni Wote Social Hall 16th
4 Central Ndaragwa OLJOROROK CDF OFFICES Mukurweini MUKURWEINI CDF HALL 12th
Nyeri Town NYERI TOWN CDF HALL RURINGU Mathira KARATINA TOWN HALL 13th
Othaya OTHAYA COUNTY HALL Tetu TETU CDF HALL WAMAGANA 14th
Mwea CFF HOSPITAL NGURUBANI Kieni KIENI CDF HALL MWEIGA 15th
Ndia ACK ST PHILIP Gichugu GICHUGU SOCIAL HALL 16th
Kangema KANGEMA SOCIAL HALL DCC CAMP Kirinyaga Central KIRINYANYA CENTRAL CDF OFFICES 12th
Kiharu KIHARU MOTHERS UNION HALL Mathioya MATHIOYA DCC KIRIAINI HALL 13th
Maragua ACK KARIGUINI KENOL HALL Kigumo KIGUMO SOCIAL/CDF HALL 14th
Gatanga GATANGA CATHOLIC HALL Kandara KANDARA CHILDRENS HOME 15th
Gatundu South KAMWANGI DCC GROUNDS Gatundu North GATUNDU NORTH SOCIAL HALL 16th
Juja JUJA DCC GROUND Thika Town THIKA COMMUNITY HALL 12th
Ruiru RUIRU ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL Githunguri GITHUNGURI TOWNSHIP PRIMARY SCHOOL 13th
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 15

Constituency Venue/Hall Constituency Venue/Hall Dates (February 2024)

Kiambu KIAMBU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY POLYTECHNIC Kiambaa KIAMBA AIC HALL 14th
Kabete KIRANGARI POLYTECHNIC Kikuyu KIKUYU MARKET 15th
Limuru KIRATHIMO SOCIAL HALL Lari DCC HALL LARI 16th
5 North Rift Turkana North LOKITOUNG SUBCOUNTY TOWN HALL Loima LORUGUM RESOURCE CENTRE 12th
Turkana South AIC LOKICHAR CHURCH HALL 13th
Turkana Central LODWAR YOUTH POLYTECHNIC (LEYOPO) 14th
Turkana East LOKORI CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL 15th
Turkana West KAKUMA SUBCOUNTY HALL 16th
Ol Kalou OLKALOU - BAIDO SOCIAL HALL Ol Jorok NDARAGWA CDF 12th
Kinangop ENGINEER CATHOLIC HALL Kipipiri KIPIPIRI MUNUNGA CATHOLIC SOCIAL HALL 13th
Samburu West MARALAL VOCATIONAL MULTIPURPOSE HALL 14th
Samburu East CATHOLIC PARISH WAMBA(MAIN HALL) 15th
Samburu North ELBERTA CHILDREN FUND SOCIAL HALL 16th
Kwanza St.Andrews Kagwa Catholic Church Kiminini Kiminini Catholic Church Hall 12th
Sabot Kitale Museum Hall- Kitale town Entebess ACK Church Hall 13th
Cherengani Deliverance church- Kachibora Kapenguria COUNTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE GROUND 14th
Kacheliba ACC Ground Kacheliba Pokot South ACC Ground Chepareria 15th
Sigor ACC Ground Sigor 16th
Moiben Chepkanga Catholic Church
Chepkanga Shopping Centre Soy St. Ann & Joachim Ziwa Catholic Church FR. Ray Hall 12th
Anaibkoi Wanifer Hall - Eldoret Turbo Consittuency Hall Turbo 13th
Tinderet DCC GROUND Aldai ALDAI CDF GROUND/YOUTH HALL 14th
Emgwen COUNTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE GROUND Mosop COUNTY CDF OFFICE GROUNDS 15th
Nandi Hills County Hall Chesumei COUNTY CDF OFFICE GROUNDS 16th
Kesses UG Social Hall Kapseret Kapsaret Sub County Office 12th
Marakwet East Chesoi CDF Hall Marakwet West Kapsowar Girls High School 13th
Keiyo North KMTC Iten Keiyo South Kamwosor Social Hall 14th
6 South Rift Baringo Central KSG Hall Baringo South Mlimani Resort 15th
Baringo North Youth Empowerment Centre Eldama Ravine Taidy’s Restaurant 16th
Tiaty AIC Chemolingot Church 17th
Naivasha St. Francis Xavier Catholic Hall Gilgil Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) Hall 12th
Nakuru Town East Regional Commissioner Plenary Hall Nakuru Town West Kapkures MCA Grounds 13th
Subukia Subukia NYS Hall Bahati Bahati NG-CDF Hall 14th
Laikipia West NYAHURURU TOWN HALL Laikipia North DOLDOL CATHOLIC HALL 15th
Molo Social Hall Njoro AIC Njoro Town 12th
Kuresoi South Keringet- Subcounty Social Hall Kuresoi North CDF Hall Sirikwa 13th
Rongai Rongai Social Hall 14th
Narok East Nairagie Enkare NG-CDF Hall Narok West Lemek NG-CDF Hall 15th
Narok North Narok North Youth Centre. Narok South Ololunga NG-CDF Hall 16th
Kajiado Central Maasai Technical Kajiado West Dc Hall Kisamis 12th
Kajiado North Dc Hall Ngong Kajiado East Mavoko Subcounty Youth Development 13th
Kajiado South Loitoktok Catholic 14th
Kipkelion East Londiani Town hall Ainamoi ACK Holy Trinity Hall 12th
Sigowet–Soin Chepkemel ACCS Office Kipkelion West Kipkelion ACCS Office 13th
Belgut Sosiot ACCS Office Bureti Bureti CDF Office 14th
Bomet East Longisa AGC Hall Sotik Catholic Diocese of Kericho, Sotik Pastoral Centre 15th
Konoin Catholic Diocese of Kericho, Liberty Hall 16th
Bomet Central Silibwet AGC Hall Chepalungu Siongiroi AGC Hall 16th
7 Western Emuhaya CDF Emuhaya Office Luanda Kim’s Mission Church of God 12th
Sabatia Serve International Church Hamisi Munzatsi Friends Church 13th
Vihiga Vihiga Friends Resource Centre Ikolomani Musingu Friends Church 14th
Lurambi Lurambi Magharibi Hall Shinyalu Shinyalu DCC Hall 15th
Navakholo Navakholo Social Hall Malava Malava CDF Hall 16th
Lugari Lugari CDF Hall Likuyani Kongoni Catholic church 12th
Webuye East Sinoko Vocational Training Centre Webuye West Glamour Hotel 13th
Mt. Elgon Pema Church Kimilili St. Luke Kimilili Boys 14th
Tongaren Salvation Army Naitiri 15th
Khwisero Khwisero Polytechnic Butere Butere CDF Office 12th
Mumias West Mumias Cultural Centre Mumias East CDF Offices 13th
Matungu CDF Office Butula Sub.county Commissioner’s Hall 14th
Nambale Polytechnic Social Hall Matayos Busia Town Social Hall 15th
Funyula Youth Social Hall Budalangi Youth Social Hall 16th
Teso North Sub.county Commissioner’s Hall Teso South Sub.county Commissioner’s Hall 12th
Bumula Bumula Girls Kanduyi Milimani Hotel 13th
Sirisia St. Antonys High School Kabuchai Busagala Secondary
8 Nyanza Alego Usonga Siaya Institute Hall Bondo JOOUST Hall 12th
Gem Wagai Resource Centre Rarieda Ruma Multipurpose Hall 13th
Ugenya Sega Polytechnic Ugunja Municipal Hall 14th
Kisumu Central CDF hall Kisumu East CDF hall 15th
Kisumu West CDF hall Muhoroni CDF hall 16th
Nyakach CDF hall Nyando CDF hall 12th
Seme CDF hall 13th
Homa Bay Town Kabunde CDF Hall Kabondo Kasipul Kasipul CDF Hall 14th
Karachuonyo Kamodi Social Hall Kendu Bay Kasipul Rawinji Resource Centre 15th
Suba North Mbita CDF Hall Ndhiwa Ndhiwa CDF Hall 16th
Rangwe Rangwe Social Hall Suba South PAG church 12th
Awendo Awendo Social Hall Kuria East Kegonga Social Hall 13th
Kuria west Kuria West - Kehancha Nyatike Macalder Social Hall 14th
Rongo Awendo Social Hall Suna East IFAD Hall Migori Hq 15th
Suna West IFAD Hall Migori Hq Uriri Uriri Social Hall 16th
Bobasi Maya Hotel Bonchari CDF Hall 12th
Bomachoge Borabu CDF Hall Bomachoge Chache CDF Hall 13th
Kitutu Chache North CDF Hall Kitutu Chache South Nyakoe Hotel 14th
Kilgoris Kilgoris NG-CDF Hall Emurua Dikirr Emurua Dikir NG-CDF 15th
Nyaribari Chache Dalla Hotel Nyaribari Masaba CDF Hall 12th
South Mugirango Jokeira Hotel 13th
West Mugirango CDF hall Kitutu Masaba CDF hall 14th
North Mugirango CDF Hall Borabu CDF Hall 15th
9 Nairobi Dagoreti North Dagoreti Empowerment Center Dagoreti South Dagoreti Empowerment Center 12th
Embakasi South Embakasi Village Embakasi East Embakasi Village 13th
Embakasi North Embakasi Social Hall Embakasi West Embakasi DCC Hall 14th
Kamukunji Pumwani Social Hall Kasarani Kasarani Stadium Ball Room 12th
Kibra Kibra Social Hall Langata Uhuru Gardens Primary Cdf Hall 13th
Makadara Mbotela Social Hall Mathare Mathare North Social Hall 14th
Roysambu Kasarani Stadium Ball Room Ruaraka Mathare North Social Hall 12th
Starehe Kariokor Social Hall Westlands Blessings College Behind Kangemi Chiefs Office 13th
Embakasi Central Kayole Social Hall 14th

Taita Taveta County 29th January, 2024

Makueni County 5th February, 2024
Nakuru County 7th February, 2024
Kirinyaga County 3rd February, 2024
Nyeri County 8th February, 2024

All interested persons should submit written comments on the draft Regulations and draft Regulatory Impact Statement in the prescribed format as follows;

TEMPLATE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

NAME OF ORGANIZATION/INDIVIDUAL PERSON
S/No. Regulation/Clause Issue of Concern Justification Recommendations
1.
2.

NAKHUMICHA S. WAFULA, EGH

CABINET SECRETARY/MINISTRY OF HEALTH
 16
COUNTIES NEWS COUNTIES
GREAT MILLET QUEST
Firms in bid to boost millet crop
production with Sh2bn contest
The competition also seeks to encourage students to become millet ambassadors
AGATHA NGOTHO
@AgathaNgotho
University students have been en-
couraged to create innovations on
millet value addition to drive global
awareness on the significance of the
crop.
To actualise this, Unilever, in
partnership with Farm To Market
Alliance and the University of Nai-
robi, has announced the Great Millet
Quest.
Unilever CEO Luck Ochieng’ said
the competition seeks to inspire uni-
versity students to develop sustain-
able and innovative millet products.
He said the products will contrib-
ute to a robust and nourishing future.
“The Great Millet Quest initiative is
a transformative initiative designed
to unlock the untapped potential of
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko outside Milimani law
courts on Wednesday /DOUGLAS OKIDDY
THE-STAR.CO.KE
millet in shaping the future of agri-
culture,” Ochieng said.
He said the competition specif-
ically targets students from UoN –
College of Agriculture and Veterinary
Services.
Ochieng said the Millet Quest is
not just a competition but a call to
action for students to become am-
bassadors for a sustainable and nu-
tritious future.
He said the crop has the potential
to reshape the agricultural future.
“The initiative’s objective is to es-
tablish millet ambassadors who will
advocate for sustainable agriculture
and promote innovative concepts
fostering a sustainable demand for
millet, thus contributing to diversi-
fying food sources,” Ochieng’ said.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock
Research Organisation director Dr
Lusike Wasilwa said despite the
growing demand for millet, pro-
duction is still below standard.
MALICIOUS PROSECUTION
Sonko mulls suing state after
Sh357m graft case acquittal
SUSAN MUHINDI/ Former Nairobi Gov-
ernor Mike Sonko’s legal team has
threatened to sue the state for ma-
licious prosecution.
Sonko was acquitted by an an-
ti-corruption court on Wednesday
after the Director of Public Prose-
cutions failed to provide sufficient
evidence to prove its case against
him and 16 others.
The former county chief and 16
others had been accused of con-
spiring to corruptly embezzle
Sh357,390,299.95 from the Nairobi
She said the current demand for
finger millet in the country is about
five million tonnes per year while
production is slightly under one
million tonnes.
Wasilwa said the initiative is timely
and will promote diversification and
make millet a suitable alternative ce-
real for food security.
She said there has been an uptake
of some of the millet varieties re-
leased by Kalro, especially in Kericho,
Bomet and Nakuru counties.
“We have farmers in Nakuru grow-
ing more than 100 acres of finger
millet and this is a first because in
the past, just a few farmers planted
the crop in not more than an eighth
of an acre,” Wasilwa said.
The crop systems expert said there
is a high demand for millet especially
in hospitals, as it is a preferred meal
for breakfasts.
“Schools are also using finger mil-
let instead of tea and when weaning
government between May 24, 2018,
and March 28, 2019.
“Given that he has suffered and
paid a huge personal price, there is a
distinct possibility of suing the state
for malicious prosecution. Although
early, there is a possibility,” lawyer
Assa Nyakundi said.
There has been no indication from
the DPP on whether it will appeal.
But Nyakundi said they are ready
for whatever decision it will make.
Sonko was dramatically arrested
in Voi, before his arraignment in
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
Kitui Governor
Julius Malombe,
(second L) at
the Kitui Show
and Trade Fair in
Ithookwe, Kitui
county /FILE
children, millet also becomes one of
the weaning foods,” she said.
“When it comes to the senior gen-
eration, finger millet is a one whole
food because it gives you fibre, car-
bohydrates, vitamin C and iron.
Finger millet has gone from what
we call an orphan crop to a crop of
choice.”
She said access to certified seed is
a challenge that has limited produc-
tion. KALRO has so far released eight
varieties, which are being multiplied
by farmers.
The entire project which will also
conduct capacity building to farmers
will cost Sh2 billion.
The competition will from January
to March 2024.
The competition will from January
to March 2024.
Winner will receive a cash prize
of Sh500,000 while second and
third best will receive Sh250,000
and Sh100,000.
court. Nyakundi said this is the the
second acquittal.
“This case should be a lesson that
nothing done to prosecute Sonko
was professional. It was hasty and
it was obvious there was a lot of po-
litical baggage behind it. Sonko was
sacrificed politically and he has paid
a huge price,” he said.
Nyutu, in acquitting Sonko, ex-
pressed her frustrations over aban-
donment of duty by the ODPP, say-
ing it is high time regulations were
enacted to rein in prosecutors who
neglect their duties
This will ensure prosecutors are
held liable for any civil liability in
the withdrawal of cases.
Nyutu took issue with the ODPP
over what has become a trend of its
prosecutors to antagonise and sab-
otage proceedings before the court.
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
NEWS COUNTIES
UPROAR
Residents to stage demos over
freehold land taxes in Kiambu
MPs Wamuchomba and Wanjiku say the law is punitive and want it done away with
STANLEY NJENGA
@TheStarKenya
Landowners in Kiambu county are
planning to hold demonstrations
against plans by the county gov-
ernment to charge them land rates.
The freehold landowners are plan-
ning to hold the demonstrations next
week on Valentine’s Day.
NOBLE INITIATIVE
Lobbies to conduct
home screening for
elderly in Murang’a
ALICE WAITHERA/ Elderly persons
living in Murang’a county are set
to benefit from a free screening
programme to help them control
non-communicable diseases.
The programme that is being im-
plemented by Ahadi Kenya Trust in
partnership with Mudavadi Foun-
dation, will see community health
promoters screen elderly persons in
their homes.
It will help the elderly understand
their health status and manage
chronic illnesses.
Murang’a is one of the counties
with high burden of chronic illnesses
such as diabetes, hypertension and
arthritis among others.
The campaign will complement
the government’s efforts to provide
They will be joined by MPs, the
clergy and other county leaders, who
have urged the county government
to repeal a law that introduced the
charges.
The Kiambu County Valuation and
Rating Act, passed in 2016, says all
freehold land in Kiambu is ratable.
Section 14 the Act gives the county
government authority to enter any
private land for valuation.
quality health care by donating
testing kits to community health
volunteers.
Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley
Kamau said CHPs will be provided
with transport during their visits.
Ambulance Mashinani pro-
gramme, carried out by the firm
provides three legged ambulances
that can access hard-to-reach areas.
“We will use Ambulance Mashi-
nani to help the community health
promoters operate in the grassroots,”
Kamau said.
Each health promoter will be allo-
cated 20 elderly persons to cater for.
Kamau said many elderly persons
are unable to access health facilities
due to limited finances.
Prime Cabinet Secretary’s wife
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Any attempts to prevent this at-
tracts a fine of Sh150,000 or six
months’ imprisonment.
Micheal Kibunyi, a resident of Mi-
harati in Kiambaa subcounty, said he
was shocked when county officers
stopped him from building a house
in his less than a quarter acre free-
hold land, until he paid rates.
He said he was given a bill of more
than Sh53,000 as land rates inclusive
An elderly person has her blood pressure checked at Kagunduini shopping centre
in Kandara by Tessie Mudavadi who is accompanied by Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO
Stanley Kamau /ALICE WAITHERA
Tessie Mudavadi said safeguarding
health of the elderly population
requires immediate and collective
attention.
“The elderly are the pillars of wis-
dom and experience in society. It is
our moral obligation to ensure their
well-being,” she said.
Tessie said age comes with health
challenges that raise the prevalence
A billboard
announcing
waiver on
land rates by
the Kiambu
government at
Kiambu town
main bus stage
/STANLEY
NJENGA
of penalties accrued since 2016 when
the Act was put in force.
According to the Act, land rates
attract a three per cent penalty every
month.
Section 44 allows the county to
charge title deeds for the land rates
in debt through the registrar of lands.
The landowners have initiated a
petition and appended their signa-
tures in protest against the law.
of chronic illnesses hence the need
for regular medical check ups.
The government, in September
last year, launched an initiative to
integrate CHPs into the health care
system.
“CHPs and strong health pro-
grammes are the backbone of a
healthy society,” she said.
Tessie said early detection and
17
The petition was drafted by Bunge
Mashinani, an NGO that advocates
democracy and human rights.
G i t hu n gu r i M P G at h o n i
Wamuchomba and her Kiambaa
colleague, John Wanjiku, want the
law to be removed completely.
The two MPs said it is unconsti-
tutional and will hurt Kiambu res-
idents.
Susan Mburaria, a resident, said
they cannot pay rates for lands they
fought for during the colonial period.
Jane Njeri, a resident of Githungu-
ri subcounty, said they have buried
their loved ones on the lands.
Section 45 of the Act gives Fi-
nance executive powers to sell land
through auction or a private treaty
if one fails to pay land rates.
The Act says all lands in Kiambu
are ratable except for public schools,
toilets, markets, hospitals and roads.
The law says a landowner is re-
quired to pay all land rates from
2016 if they want to sell, subdivide,
develop or lease their land.
Bunge Mashinani clerk Michael
Mburu said the Act was passed with-
out public participation.
Eric Mutura of Bunge Mashinani
said the petition does not target any
anyone but the punitive law.
Reacting to the issue, Governor
Kimani Wamatangi said his ad-
ministration found the law already
in place.
He said he has asked members
of the county assembly to review it
once they resume sittings.
Wamatangi said he has also put
a waiver on penalties accrued from
the land rates.
The waiver has been advertised on
local dailies and electronic media.
“This is to notify the general public
and specifically land/plot owners in
Kiambu county who have defaulted
in timely payment of land rates, that
the county government of Kiambu
has waived 100% interest/penalties
that had accrued on unpaid rates,”
the advertisement reads.
“To qualify and enjoy the waiver
land/plot owners must clear the
unpaid principal land rates amount
within the waiver period.”
management of health disorders
will enable timely intervention and
change an individual’s quality of life.
“I encourage community initia-
tives that promote social interac-
tion among the elderly as loneli-
ness and isolation can have severe
consequences on one’s mental and
physical health,” she said.
“By fostering community integra-
tion, we not only provide compan-
ionship but also create an environ-
ment where our seniors feel valued
and connected.”
TESSIE MUDAVADI
The elderly are the
pillars of wisdom
and experience in
society. It is our
obligation to ensure
their well–being
 18
NEWS COUNTIES
13-MONTH PROGRAMME
NGO to empower
30 Kwale girls from
vulnerable families
SHABAN OMAR/ About 30 girls from
vulnerable families are set to bene-
fit from a 13-month empowerment
programme in Msambweni, Kwale
county.
At least 70 per cent of the targeted
group will include girls who were
solely raised by widows and 30 per
cent by widowers and from ages 18
to 35 years.
The programme is dubbed PISSCA.
Tuwajali Wajane director Mwanaisha
Gaserego said the project is geared
towards supporting girls’ empower-
ment to prevent and respond to gen-
der-based violence and sexual rights.
PROTECT FROM DESTRUCTION
Chasimba residents
reject proposed Sh12bn
cement factory in Kilifi
Say the plant will hurt community culturally and environmentally
Mawe Meru rock outcrop in Chasimba, Chonyi /ELIAS YAA
ELIAS YAA
@TheStarKenya
Some Chonyi community members
in Chasimba, Kilifi county have ob-
jected to the proposed Sh12 billion
cement plant at Mawe Meru over en-
vironmental and cultural concerns.
Led by former Bahari MP Mtana
Lewa, the residents argued that the
proposed plant by Mashujaa Q&M
PLC will hurt the community both
culturally and environmentally.
Gaserego said most children from
widowed families are often affected
by GBV in one form or another.
“The majority of widows go
through a lot of misery which is
transferred to the children living
in those families,” she said.
She said many girls raised by
widows or widowers are victims of
sexual abuse.
Gaserego said sometimes the girls
are double affected through their
childhood and marital life.
She said the project will ensure
the targeted group is taken through
psychosocial support, empower-
Lewa said the area is home to
near-extinction flora and fauna in-
cluding the African violet.
“Mashujaa Q&M PLC is plan-
ning to mine the Mawe Meru rock
outcrop for limestone. This area is
special to us because it is home to
over 10 shrines where traditionalists
from this community conduct their
prayers,” he said.
“This place is also home to over
30 plant species that are classified
as threatened. As a community, we
THE-STAR.CO.KE
ment and exposed to referral path-
ways and human rights laws to en-
hance resilience.
Tuwajali Wajane is a Kwale-based
NGO that advocates for the rights of
widows and offers empowerment
opportunities on matters of leader-
ship, inheritance and economy for
self-reliance.
Gaserego said the girls will be
educated on various forms of GBV
and how to report and protect
themselves.
She said the selected group is ex-
pected to train others to help lower
the swelling GBV vice in the region.
The director said the project will
bring together various stakeholders
and provide insights and support
to strengthen the campaign against
gender-based violence.
Gaserego said most widows and
their children’s rights are violated
for lack of understanding of human
rights.
She the programme will capacity
build the girls and create awareness
of GBV and enhance reporting.
have tried to conserve this area and
also protect it from destruction.”
Lewa said the factory would affect
over 60,000 people.
Justice Chonga, a lawyer and an
environmentalist, said the commu-
nity was not consulted during the
Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment which was submitted
to the National Environmental Man-
agement Authority.
“We take great exception to this
situation because we understand
Gaserego said through the proj-
ect, they will ensure all the reported
sexual and physical violence cases
are dealt with and justice is served.
Tuwajali Wajane board member
and mediator Rashid Mbwiza said
fully well that public participation
on development projects, pro-
grammes, policies, and plans is one
of the key principles of environmen-
tal impact assessment,” he said.
“Public participation is given
under the constitution of Kenya.
The company has contravened the
constitution.”
Chonga said Mawe Meru is an
ecocultural site with great signifi-
cance to the community and con-
servationists across the world.
Bishop Ronald Nzai of the Meth-
odist Church said the factory would
be a recipe for chaos and family
feuds.
Nzai said land in the area is reg-
istered as agricultural land and title
deeds bear names of family mem-
bers not one person.
“We need to know when the
change of user from agricultural to
industrial was affected. Some fam-
ily members are selling land to the
company without the knowledge of
other members. This is disastrous
as it will cause conflicts,” he said.
Sylvia Kuvuna, a youth from Cha-
simba, said the area has been calm
but the proposal to set up the ce-
ment plant is threatening the peace
of the area.
“Land is a great resource and also
very emotive. If the concerns of the
community will not be met then
anything can happen,” she said.
“We have witnessed killings of the
elderly which is mostly catalysed by
land problems. Let the government
stop this company from interfering
with this area.”
Kuvuna further said the min-
ing activities will pose a threat to
residents living around due to the
emissions from the quarries and
the factory.
Nicholas Bandari expressed con-
cerns over the productivity of land
when the plant will be in opera-
tion.
“The land will be degraded. This
is the food basket of Kilifi county. If
we allow the company to set ground
here then we will be doomed as
our farms will produce nothing,”
he added.
He said the factory is proposed to
be built in a densely populated area.
The community has written to
Nema to stop the project.
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
Tuwajali
Wajane director
Mwanaisha
Gaserego during
an interview at
Msambweni in
Kwale county on
Wednesday
/SHABAN OMAR
GBV cases have been one of the ma-
jor challenges affecting the Kwale
community.
He said the programme will boost
the fight against the vice in the re-
gion.
TAKE STOCK
Agencies unite
to address Coast
security threats
ONYANGO OCHIENG’ / Security teams
from the coastal region have agreed
to deploy the multi-agency ap-
proach in combating security threats
affecting the region.
Coast regional commissioner
Rhoda Onyancha on Wednesday
held a day-long security meeting
with the teams to chat the way for-
ward for 2024 to ensure the region
remains peaceful.
The meeting was attended by
security teams from all 33 subcoun-
ties and also the county security
teams from the six coastal counties
alongside the regional security team
headed by the RC.
The objective of the meeting,
she said was to take stock of the
region’s security in the past year, to
appraise themselves of the achieve-
ments that they made, and look at
the challenges they faced, and how
to move forward in setting the agen-
da for a peaceful region in 2024.
“Going forward, we’ve agreed
that we are going to work in a
multi-agency way where everyone
that is involved in the security sector
is going to come together at the
subcounty level, county level, and at
the regional level,” she said.
“This is so that we can build that
synergy, that oneness, that unity,
so that as a region, we can provide a
secure, peaceful and stable environ-
ment,” Onyancha said.
Each county, she said, faces
unique security threats, and as such,
the need to come together to dis-
cuss how best counties can support
each other manage the threats.
The region, she said, continues
to face several threats with terror
topping the list.
Last year, dozens of people
including police lost their lives and
properties was destroyed due to
terror-related incidences in some
parts of the region.
At the same time, security forces
also managed to thwart terror at-
tacks killing tens of al Shabaab.
Friday, February 9, 2024
NEWS COUNTIES
TOXIC BREW
Go for checkup, revellers who
patronised Kirinyaga bar urged
Deputy Governor Githanda says there could be more people suffering at home
ALICE WAITHERA, CYRUS OMBATI
AND MAGDALINE SAYA
@TheStarKenya
Kirinyaga county government has
appealed to people who could have
taken the illicit brew that has killed
over 10 people in Kangai area to visit
health facilities for check-ups.
Deputy Governor David Githanda
said there could be more people suf-
fering at home and asked residents
HEALTHY SOIL
Practise crop rotation to eliminate
maize disease, Narok farmers told
KIPLANGAT KIRUI/ Kenya Plant Health
Inspectorate Service has advised
farmers to practice crop rotation
farming to control Maize Lethal
Necrosis Disease in South Rift region.
The disease has affected their
crops for over 13 years.
Wilson Sitienei, a Kephis Seeds
Inspector, said maize planted in any
field infected by the disease will be
affected unless the farmers plants a
different crop.
He addressed the journalists in
Narok town after experts from the
government institution traversed
the county sensitising farmers on
best crop husbandry and need to use
certified seeds.
“Farmers should not plant maize
in the same field for many years. It is
important for them to practice rota-
tional planting with beans, sorghum
and potatoes among others so as to
to check on the wellbeing of relatives
known to frequent California Bar.
The brew is suspected to have been
laced with ethanol.
Githanda said six people had died
on arrival or while being treated at
the Kerugoya County Referral Hos-
pital.
Majority of the dead, he added,
had been taken to health facilities
while in critical condition.
About 20 cases were reported in
have healthy soil and a better har-
vests,” Sitienei said.
He added that once the maize crop
is harvested, pests do not disappear
completely as some dig into the soil
where they undergo part of their life
cycle.
“When the maize is planted again,
the pests attack the young germinat-
ing crops while it is still in the soil,
thus passing the disease to the next
maize crop,” Sitienei said.
Research shows that dressing the
maize seed with strong pesticides
does not help either and the crop is
likely to get infected regardless of
whether the seeds are dressed or not.
However, Sitienei said the ferocity
of the maize disease has gone down
following the prolonged rainfall in
the country, adding that the disease
thrives in prolonged dry spells.
He advised the farmers to ensure
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Government
officials visit
the bar that
was razed by
irate residents
at Kangai in
Kirinyaga
/ALICE WAITHERA
local health facilities out of which
four are still admitted in critical
condition while 10 others have been
discharged.
“We call upon those who could
have consumed the illicit brew at
this particular outlet to visit our
medical facilities for examination
and treatment,” he said.
He appealed to local traders to en-
sure they sell products that conform
to standards set by the Kenya Bureau
they plant certified seeds in order
to fight disease and reap maximum
returns from the crop, and in turn
address the issues of food security
and create employment.
“We are advising the farmers to
be alert and ensure every package
of seeds they purchase have a code,
where farmers can verify quality
from Kephis,” Sitienei said.
“Certified seeds have a label. Farm-
ers can scratch the label where they
will find a number that they can use
to confirm whether the seeds are
genuine or not. Planting the right
seeds will help farmers get the best
results.”
During the tour, the team visited
Ntulele, Nkaretta, Sogoo, Ngosuani,
Ololulunga and Suswa to ensure
both the farmers and sellers were
dealing with the right seeds.
Narok is among the leading
of Standards to protect consumers’
lives.
The deputy governor also noted
that the county administration has
reached out to families affected by
the incident and is working with lo-
cal leaders to assess the assistance
needed.
He asked all stakeholders to work
hand-in-hand to eliminate illicit
brews saying the fight can only be
won through a multi-agency ap-
proach.
“We take cognisance of the fact
that no single government agency
can eliminate illicit brews without
working together with other agen-
cies.”
The proprietor of the bar, John Mu-
riithi Karaya, was arraigned at the
Baricho law courts on Wednesday.
The court allowed police to detain
him for 20 days pending further
investigations.
Meanwhile, The National Au-
thority for the Campaign Against
Alcohol and Drug Abuse has inten-
sified crackdowns on substandard,
illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the
country.
The crackdown comes days after
the Kirinyaga brew deaths.
The operation is being conducted
in collaboration with officers from
the Kenya Revenue Authority and
the National Police Service.
A crackdown conducted on
Wednesday night saw 750 litres of
pure ethanol netted in Ruaka in
Kiambu county.
Kephis seeds inspector Wilson Sitienei in Narok town /KIPLANGAT KIRUI
maize-producing counties in the
country.
The disease was first reported in
the county in 2011 and some of the
symptoms of infected plants are
maize leaves becoming yellow and
19
Nacada in a statement on Thursday
said the multi-agency team which
was operating on intelligence, also
recovered over 40 empty drums with
a capacity of 250 litres each.
The drums, according to Nacada
CEO Anthony Omerikwa are sus-
pected to have contained ethanol
which they suspect had already been
ferried for illegal activities.
“Drinking this type of alcohol is
risky to health and could have dan-
gerous consequences. Counterfeit
or illegally produced alcohol can
lead to blindness and even death,”
Omerikwa said.
The CEO reiterated the authority’s
commitment to work closely with
the National Government Admin-
istrative Officers to intensify the
crackdown on substandard, illicit
and counterfeit alcohol.
This, he said, is to safeguard the
public from such harmful products
and avert any deaths that might arise.
“The heightened vigilance and
sporadic crackdown will contin-
ue across the country and anyone
found to be complicit will face the
law,” Omerikwa said.
The authority has called on the
public to share any information that
they may have regarding the illegal
manufacturing, distribution, or sale
of any suspicious alcohol and other
forms of drugs to the authorities.
The authority in a statement on
Wednesday said the contents of the
suspected brew that killed villagers
in Kirinyaga are yet to be known.
Nacada urged the public to avoid
consuming alcohol whose quality
cannot be verified as investigative
agencies try to unravel the content
and source of the killer brew.
“From preliminary reports, the
deaths occurred as a result of con-
sumption of an unidentified sub-
stance whose contents are yet to be
established,” Omerikwa said.
Kerugoya county Health boss
George Karoki said among the de-
ceased was a patient who had been
referred to the Kerugoya County Re-
ferral Hospital but died upon arrival
on Tuesday.
drying out from the outside edges
towards the midrib.
MLND can also cause dwarfing
and premature aging of the plants
and then the entire plant dries out
and dies.
 20 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

NEWS COUNTIES
COUNTIES’ CASH FLOW PROBLEM
Be innovative to boost own
source revenue, says Barasa
HILTON OTENYO/ Counties can only end the cash flow chal-
lenges they are facing by enhancing own source revenue,
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has said.
He urged county governments to explore innovative solu-
tions and partnerships to bolster their financial positions.
“Counties may not be able to sustain essential services
due to the ever dwindling financial support from the national
government,” Barasa said.
He chairs the finance committee at the Council of Gov-
ernors.
Barasa, who was addressing staff at the county head-
quarters on Thursday, said county governments are yet to
receive a substantial portion of the allocated budget this
financial year.
He said finding alternative sources of revenue is more
critical now than ever to ensure smooth functioning of
devolved units.
The county chief said devolved units are going to take
up the servicing of medical equipment from the national
government starting April, meaning they will require more
money yet the sharable revenue is shrinking and the wage
bill ballooning.
“This is going to add more that Sh300 million for Ka-
kamega county, which was not budgeted for,” Barasa said.
Governors are pushing the Treasury to allocate counties
Sh450 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Assistant county commissioner Alex Murithi
/STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Nairobi regional NEW APPROACH

commander
Adamson Bungei,
Paul Odiero, an Garissa leaders
shift focus to ECDE
entertainment
joint security
provider, and
PSRA managing
director Fazul
Mohammed in
as grade 7, Form 1
Nairobi on
Thursday
/ENOS TECHE
enrolments go up
STEPHEN ASTARIKO/ Authorities in Garissa have shifted
focus on school early childhood development Education
enrolment.
This came weeks after a successful drive to ensure 100
per cent transition to Form 1 and Grade 7.
Garissa Central assistant county commissioner Alex
Murithi said concerns have been raised that there has
been low enrolment or no enrolment at all in some cases
in ECDE in the county.
He said many ECDE classrooms have few pupils.
Murithi spoke during a meeting that brought togeth-
er chiefs, assistant chiefs, police, elders and religious
leaders.
UNAFFORDABLE “We have registered an insufficient number of pupils

Guards face job losses after

in PP1, PP2, Grade 1 and Grade 2 in the county,” he said.
Murithi said assistant county commissioners, chiefs
and children’s officers will hold barazas in villages,
mosques and churches to urge parents to take their
children to school.

state cancels firms licences

Associations say cancelling permits of 9 firms puts over 20,000 jobs on the line
CYRUS OMBATI
@TheStarKenya
The cancellation of operating licenc-
es for nine private security compa-
nies puts more than 20,000 jobs
on the line, two associations have
warned.
On February 5, the Private Secu-
rity Regulatory Authority (PSRA)
issued a legal notice cancelling the
licences of the nine companies.
The companies had previously
passed through stringent vetting
procedures and been issued with
five-year operating licences, apart
from three whose applications were
being processed.
The action comes in the wake of
court battles and protests by security
associations who were not in agree-
overtime, taxes and operational
costs).
They argued this is a factor that
most Kenyans would not afford
(churches, schools, hospitals and
commercial institutions) and would
be severely exposed and at risk, thus
affecting existing contracts which
are being paid at much lower rates,
including through existing tendered
contracts by government institu-
tions.
“If the new minimum wage is im-
plemented in its current form and
with the current economic situation,
it would lead to losses of between
500,000 and 700,000 jobs in the
sector,” the associations said in a
statement.
“The massive churn and indus-
try upheaval is likely to lead to a
to a spike in suicides, depression and
chronic illness.
“Assumptions that other security
companies will take up the slack are
erroneous as for most organisations
and institutions, including resident
associations, the turnaround time
for a new security provider is guid-
ed by a strict procurement process,
which takes weeks if not months
for new appointments and contract
signing,” they said.
HARSH ECONOMY
The group said the net result is a
more turbulent time for Kenyans
who are already suffering because
of the harsh economy.
The group claimed that only asso-
ciation leaders and companies have
been targeted in the big chop.
He said this is among the efforts they will put in place
to boost school enrolment in Garissa, since the govern-
ment has provided capitation for free primary education.
Subcounty director of education Ali Buthul said during
a recent meeting, they came up with a new approach to
urge parents to take their children to school.
“We shall be going door-to-door, talking to parents
and we will also hold meetings in the villages to make
sure all children go to school,” he said.
County assembly deputy speaker Mustafa Abdirashid
said the county has reached out to the Ministry of Edu-
cation on plans of school integration.
He said they want to integrate Islamic and secular
studies to drive interest of parents to enrol their children
in school, as they believe more in madrasa education.
“We have spoken to the Ministry of Education to con-
sider the integration of schools so that parents can easily
enrol their children for basic education,” Abdirashid said.
Last year, the Garissa government said it would employ
300 ECDE teachers, renovate existing classrooms and
build new ones to boost early education in the county.
Governor Nathif Jama said the move will add value
ON FEBRUARY to the ECDE education and create suitable learning en-
vironment for the pupils.
5, THE “My administration remains committed to addressing
the plight of the teachers, stabilising early learning and
PRIVATE setting a strong base for education of our children,” the
SECURITY governor had said.

ment with an earlier PSRA notice
calling for a new minimum wage
of Sh30,000 per guard, which was
later disowned by Labour Cabinet
Secretary Florence Bore.
But the Professional Security and
Safety Association of Kenya and Pro-
tective Security Industry Association
said this would not be affordable
to clients whose costs would then
rise to Sh45,000 per day guard and
Sh55,000 per night guard (due to
rampant increase in crime, theft,
burglaries and robberies due to the
sudden lack of manned physical se-
curity at premises across the country
and as those now unemployed but
having families to feed are forced to
find ways to survive.”
They argued additional impact
may be experienced in the health
sector as those, now without hope
for a future paycheck, fall into men-
tal health problems that could lead
“The specific targeting of associa- REGULATORY
tion leaders through a public office
for not toeing an unknown agenda
AUTHORITY
is an unwanted and unwelcome de- ISSUED A
velopment,” they said in a statement.
LEGAL NOTICE
“Diplomatic channels have been
We have registered an
opened to try to resolve the existing CANCELLING
stalemate while maintaining peace
THE LICENCES insufficient number of pupils
and stability across the nation.”
“We encourage Kenyans to remain
OF THE NINE in PP1, PP2, Grade 1 and Grade 2
calm and positive as the matter is
resolved in an amicable manner.” COMPANIES in the county
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
NEWS COUNTIES
PRODUCTION
Kisumu inks deal to build big
medicine factory at varsity
The facility will produce two billion tablets per year at a subsidised cost
MAURICE ALAL
@alalmaurice
The Kisumu government has part-
nered with Med Aditus Kenya Limited
to build a pharmaceutical manufactur-
ing plant at the Great Lakes University
of Kisumu.
The multibillion-shilling project
will be constructed in two phases on
15 acres. Phase one will cost Sh1.6 bil-
lion ($10 million), which will include a
factory and other infrastructure.
The pact will make Kisumu the first
county in Western Kenya to construct
and manage a pharmaceutical com-
pany.
Upon completion, the facility will
be producing two billion tablets per
year at a subsidised cost.
Med Aditus Kenya Limited is a sub-
sidiary company under Med Aditus
Incorporation, a US-based pharma-
ceutical nonprofit company created
with the vision of increasing access
to quality medicine in sub-Saharan
Africa.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o
said they have signed a concession
agreement providing a legal frame-
work for the partnership to allow
construction to start.
He said they are also collaborating
with the university (GLUK) in Kibos to
build the pharmaceutical plant.
“We are proud to host a project that
will not only provide hundreds of em-
ployment opportunities to our people,
but will also produce affordable and
quality medicines for underserved
patients,” Nyong’o said.
The firm is expected to stimulate the
local economy, contribute to research
and training, and enhance the health
sector in the region.
Nyong’o, who spoke during the
launch of the project in Kibos on
Wednesday, said the initiative will no
doubt create an opportunity for the
university to build a faculty of phar-
macy.
He praised Med Aditus Pharmaceu-
ticals and Med Aditus Pharmaceuticals
Kenya Limited president and chief
executive officer Dr Dhiren Thakker
and president and CEO of Med Adi-
tus International Robert Blouin for the
partnership.
Local medicines production will
reduce the county’s dependence on
imports and improve supply chain se-
curity. It will also increase resilience to
shocks and disruptions, especially in
the face of emerging and re-emerging
diseases.
Besides medicines, it will foster in-
novation, training, research and devel-
opment in the pharmaceutical sector
and contribute to the achievement of
the universal health coverage agenda
and the national agenda of boosting
local manufacturing.
The governor said his government is
committed to supporting Med Aditus
in its mission to build a sustainable
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Governor ecosystem to produce medicine in
Anyang’ Nyong’o Kenya and beyond.
and Med Aditus “We have provided land, infra-
CEO Dr Dhiren structure and incentives to facilitate
Thakker in Kibos, the implementation of this project,”
Kisumu county Nyong’o said.
/MAURICE ALAL The county has also collaborated
with state agencies to ensure the proj-
ect adheres to the highest standards
of environmental and social respon-
sibility.
Africa, with 25 per cent of the
world’s disease burden and just one
per cent of global health expenditure,
faces significant challenges.
Nyong’o said the continent heavily
relies on imports, leading to supply in-
stability and infiltration of substandard
medicines to address unmet medica-
tion needs.
Med Aditus, in collaboration with
international trainer-Rymedi Inter-
national-will be introducing cut-
ting-edge technologies to bring about
exponential change in the pharmaceu-
tical landscape of sub-Saharan Africa.
The modular continuous manu-
facturing assembly, coupled with real
time process controls, will accelerate
the production of high quality phar-
maceuticals, meet domestic needs and
pave the way for export.
Nyong’o said they must ensure the
medicines produced by Med Aditus
reach the neediest people and they
are used appropriately and effectively.
“We must continue to invest in our
health systems, our human resources
and our communities to ensure every-
one has access to quality and afford-
able healthcare,” he said.
The governor urged residents to
embrace and promote projects and to
support local industries and products.
Nyong’o assured residents, especial-
ly those from Kibos, that they will be
given first priority in non-technical
jobs, once construction work starts.
The project will supplement efforts
the county has made in improving pre-
ventive, public and family healthcare.
“Our health indicators have system-
atically improved in the past five years
as reported by the Kenya Demographic
and Health Surveys,” Nyong’o said.
He said they will continue to invest
in training, research, data collection,
hospital modernisation and service
delivery.
Nyong’o said the county has record-
ed a reduction in maternal mortality
by about 30 per cent (from 495 to 343
per 100,000 live births).
Infant mortality rate has reduced
from 54 to 39 per 100,000 live births,
with under five mortality reducing
from 79 to 63 deaths per 1,000 live
births.
In the past two years, the number of
women delivering in health facilities
has increased from 69 to 94 per cent
because of the completion and open-
ing of health facilities in the county
and investment in community health
services.
The county has opened 280 com-
munity health units and linked them
to 151 public health facilities and five
faith-based health facilities.
“Our community health workers
have become the pillar of our health
services. The number of visits they
made to family households increased
from 187,977 in 2022 to 206,420 in
2023,” Nyong’o said.
ANYANG’ NYONG’O
We have provided
land, infrastructure
and incentives
to facilitate the
implementation of
this project
21
SMART AGRICULTURE
New rice varieties to boost
production, reduce deficit
ROBERT OMOLLO/ The government has started introduc-
ing new rice varieties and climate-smart technologies to
farmers to end the shortage of commodity in the country.
The country has been producing only 200,000 tonnes,
against the required quantity of 800,000 tonnes annually.
The government is forced to import 600,000 tonnes to
bridge the gap.
Lake Basin Development Authority managing director
Wycliffe Ochiaga said the government is introducing
the new varieties, which are climate change resilient to
improve the crop production.
He said the country has not been able to produce ade-
quate rice due to poor quality and change of climate.
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organ-
isation (Kalro), the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) and LBDA partnered to come up with ways of
increasing the crop production.
“The initiatives have been introduced to at least 250
farmers in Homa Bay. They are growing rice in Kimira
Oluch, which is one of the mega irrigation schemes in the
county,” Ochiaga said.
The Kimira Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Proj-
ect in Homa Bay is an irrigation project that supplies water
to more than 1,500 hectares (3,706 acres).
Ochiaga, Kalro’s Industrial Crop Development Institute
director Finyange Pole and IRRI’s regional breeding lead in
Africa Ajay Panchbhai urged the farmers to adopt the new
varieties.
Some of the varieties introduced include komboka and
08 FAN10 (mkombozi). CSR36 will be introduced in June.
Ochiaga, who spoke during an agricultural field day in
Rarut, Kochia, in Rangwe constituency on Wednesday,
said the new rice varieties mature quicker than the con-
ventional ones.
“The new rice varieties take three months or less to
mature compared to the conventional varieties, which take
four months. I urge farmers to embrace the new seeds,”
he said.
Ochiaga assured farmers that LBDA will help them
secure a market for their produce.
“Let farmers not worry about the market, because we
have the capacity. Supply of locally produced rice is still
huge,” he said.
Pole said their idea is to adopt the newly bred rice vari-
eties that can do well and give more yield.
“Kalro has released several varieties of rice seeds and
one of them is komboka, which farmers are seeing today.
08FAN10 also does well,” he said.
Pole said the new varieties are good because their
production is almost double the traditional cotton varieties
farmers are growing today.
He urged farmers to embrace the climate-smart
technologies so they can plant rice directly into the farm
without preparing a nursery bed.
Panchbhai said their objective is to empower farmers to
ensure they have money besides food.
“It is unfortunate that farmers grow old rice varieties,
which earn them poor yields. These new varieties will
boost their income,” Panchbhai said.
Farmers Ezekiel Ogutu, Jonathan Oner and Josephine
Aoko expressed confidence the new rice varieties and
technologies will cushion them from too many expenses.
“We’re hoping to realise more production with the new
varieties,” Ogutu said.
Kalro’s Industrial Crop Development Institute director
Finyange Pole in Nyarut, Rangwe constituency, on
Wednesday /ROBERT OMOLLO
 22
NEWS COUNTIES
PHOTO STORY
Narok women and girls commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation on Tuesday as
experts noted a drop in the outlawed practice from 78 to 51 per cent in the county / KNA
NO ANSWERS
KMA officials fail to tell
House team how project
gobbled up Sh2.2 billion
They couldn’t explain Sh500m variance in cost of KMA Towers
BRIAN OTIENO
@Yobramos4
For the second day, Kenya Maritime
Authority officials on Wednesday
struggled to explain variations in
the cost of construction of their new
office block at Mbaraki in Mombasa.
The KMA Towers was initially
designed to cost Sh1.7 billion but
ended up gobbling over Sh2.2 bil-
lion, a variation of more than Sh500
million.
The National Assembly Public
Investments Committee on Com-
mercial Affairs and Energy led by
Pokot South MP David Pkosing had
to adjourn more than twice as the
KMA officials could not provide the
facts and figures asked for.
They had to be given time to make
phone calls to get certain fiscal in-
formation and to make photocopies
of crucial documents.
When he saw that satisfactory an-
swers were not forthcoming from
the KMA officials, an agitated El-
das MP Adan Keynan at one point
threatened to invoke the Parliamen-
tary Powers and Privileges Act and
declare the officials hostile.
“Once this is done, the conse-
quence is that you will be charged
and you will step aside,” Keynan
said.
Led by Director General Dzom-
bo Munga, the officials could barely
explain why they continued having
and paying the main consultant,
even after officers from the State
Department of Public Works were
seconded to manage the project.
Munga said the authority received
a letter from the PS informing them
that the Public Works team was
coming to join them. “The team
was to work alongside the consul-
tant,” he said, much to the chagrin
of the MPs.
The MPs, who are probing the
possible loss of millions of taxpay-
ers’ money, questioned the role of
the Public Works officers in the
project.
“What was the use of the consul-
tant after Public Works took over
the project? Why did you still pay
the consultant?” Pkosing said.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiun-
juri expressed concern that the
Auditor General’s office failed to
flag the duplication of roles by the
consultant and the Public Works
officers.
He argued that the Public
Works officers, whom he termed
as “strangers” and “tourists” in the
project, took over the roles of the
consultant.
Kiunjuri and Pkosing said the
consultant was rendered useless
once the Public Works Department
took over the project, with Pkosing
saying the consultant should have
exited at that point.
Kiunjuri suggested that either the
consultant or the Public Works of-
ficers should be surcharged.
“Money was paid for the purpose
supposed to be done by the con-
sultant but which they did not do.
So, we have a jobless person in the
name of a consultant who was still
being paid.
“We should explore this to see
who we should surcharge because
it means that the consultant was
deemed incompetent once Public
Works came in,” the Laikipia East
MP said.
THE-STAR.CO.KE
According to KMA officials, the
consultant’s fee was initially Sh63
million, which was to be paid in
three instalments at the rate of 35
per cent for the first and second and
30 per cent for the final tranche.
However, there was also a vari-
ation of Sh106 million that was to
be paid to the consultant.
Director General Munga said the
Sh106 million was yet to be paid.
Kiunjuri described Public Works
officers in the project as intruders
who had no legal basis to audit what
the consultant had done.
This is after the officers told the
MPs they were brought on board
while the project was ongoing and
they were to work alongside the
consultant.
“We were brought in because it is
a government project. There were
so many authorities that were doing
works on their own. All government
projects are done with the Public
Works closely involved,” said an
officer from the department.
He said Public Works was brought
in as the project managers whose
role was to oversee the consultant.
He said the consultant was doing
reports, which they had to verify
before any payment was done.
However, the Public Works offi-
cers said they were not paid for the
work they were doing because they
are government officials working on
a government project.
But Aldai MP Marianne Kitany
said KMA funded their flights from
Nairobi, accommodation, food and
stay in Mombasa every time they
flew to the Coast.
“KMA was also giving them allow-
ances,” she said.
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
CALL FOR CAMPAIGNS
Lobbies push state
to make road safety
public health concern
AURA RUTH/ The government has tells us what and where the genuine
been urged to undertake public problem is. Is it speeding at the pe-
campaigns on road safety. destrian areas that causes the road
Vital Strategies Road Safety di- crash or what could be the problem?”
rector Irina Morozova said there is Morozova said.
a need for the government to use “Passing the message to all the
the power of mass communication drivers and checking whether these
and empower individuals to adopt messages resonate with the audienc-
healthy behaviour on roads. es is motivating and clear.”
She said people make mistakes on She said that knowing about
roads because of human nature but something is not enough to change
there should be a system in place that behaviour. It is also not enough just
would not allow such mistakes to to tell the drivers to stop speeding.
become fatal, so that even if a crash “No, it does not work. People are
happens no one dies. people, they have different kinds of
Morozova said road safety should benefits, barriers and facilitators for
be treated as a public health issue their behaviour, so it is important to
that needs holistic intervention be- find the right balance.”
cause everyone is affected. The Vital Strategies Road Safety
There is no point for the police director said campaigning is import-
to be on the street when the law is ant. Last week, the organisation held
not right and that is why there is a a meeting with the National Trans-
need for communication, which is a port Safety Authority and came up
critical component of the road safety with a plan to work together on the
system approach, she said. speeding campaign.
Morozova said it is important to “We had a meeting with NTSA on
engage those who call themselves a specific plan. They have a very pre-
risk takers, people who violate the cise action plan and this month, they
law by speeding, consuming alco- will be launching a railroad safety
hol, those who do not wear helmets action plan where the communica-
properly or do not use seat belts.
“Through communication, you can
tion strategies will be written into
the action plan,” she said.
change their behaviour and this is From her experience in Kenya,
really critical when communication Morozova said that she noticed speed
goes hand in hand with enforcement. is the core of the problem and that is
It helps people to be aware of not why speed regulation is fundamental.
only their personal and family con- People need to be aware of the laws
sequences but also the opportunities and there should be good signage
they will lose and the legal conse- and infrastructure.
quences they will face,” she said. Vital Strategies policy advocacy
She said people need to know and communication division lead
about law enforcement in case they Sandra Mullin said that with the
violate any road safety rules because strong partnership they have with
it makes no sense to have laws but government agencies, a lot will be
not inform the public why the laws achieved because the government is
matter. creating long-term strategic plans.
Vital Strategies group in partner- “I would certainly hope that
ship with Bloomberg Philanthropies within the next five years, some of
Initiative for Global Road Safety work those policy goals would have been
with governments to run sustainable achieved, or at least progress made
best practice campaigns. towards them. I think you will also
“This is not just a campaign; it is a be seeing changes in other areas
science of communication. We are where the initiative works, includ-
also data-driven, we look at data that ing street design,” she said.
Bloomberg Philanthropies communication officer Kevin Ismael, Vital Strategies
policy lead Sandra Mullin and director Irina Morozova in Mombasa /AURA RUTH
Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024
NEWS COUNTIES
CORRECTION WITH DIGNITY
Chuka prison a hell that needs
upgrade, says Governor Njuki
Tharaka Nithi government to supply water, equip dispensary in congested facility
GERALD MUTETHIA
@TheStarKenya
The state should move quickly
to improve conditions at Chuka
prison that is in dire need of
rehabilitation, Tharaka Nithi
Governor Muthomi Njuki has said.
Njuki accused the Correctional
Services Department of sleeping
on the job, saying inmates at the
facility are living in hell.
He spoke at the weekend when
he donated 100 mattresses, 77
blankets, two television sets and
food to the inmates.
The governor said the prison
was in a mess and promised to
install solar panels at River Maara
to pump water to the facility and
provide water bowsers.
The devolved government will
also equip a dispensary located
inside the prison and deploy a lab
technologist to ensure the inmates
get good medical services.
PENDING ELECTIONS
UDM calls for appointment of
IEBC chiefs after court ruling
GEORGE MURAGE/ The United Dem-
ocratic Movement has asked the
President to initiate the process of
appointing new IEBC commissioners
to avoid a constitutional crisis.
The party warned that the country
was operating on dangerous ground
with some constituencies and wards
operating without elected leaders.
This emerged when the party’s
national executive council met in
Naivasha for its annual meeting.
Party leader Ali Roba called on
President William Ruto to move
with haste and act on the High Court
ruling that gave the green light to
appoint new IEBC commissioners.
Addressing the press in Naivasha,
the Mandera senator said that hun-
dreds of voters in Banissa constitu-
ency and other wards in the country
were getting a raw deal due to failure
to conduct by-elections.
“Currently, the country cannot
“There is lot of congestion,
tattered bedding, a potholed
dormitory floor and water scarcity
among other inhuman conditions
that have turned this prison into
a hell instead of a correctional
facility. I will also personally
engage Interior Cabinet Secretary
Prof Kithure Kindiki on this issue,”
Njuki said.
He said inmates risked
contracting diseases due to the
congestion witnessed in the
dormitory that is supposed to
accommodate 230 persons but
instead hosts double that number.
“Such congestion is also a big
challenge because of the hot
climatic conditions of the semi-
arid area, resulting in inmates
spending sleepless nights. I am
aware that suspects or people
found guilty of committing petty
crimes have mainly contributed
to the congestion because they
cannot afford the huge penalties
conduct any by-elections as there
are no election commissioners and
we call on the President to act before
things go wrong,” he said.He added
that the continued delay infringed
on the constitutional rights of the
affected electoral areas, hence the
need for the President to act.
Roba reiterated that party’s sup-
port for the Kenya Kwanza govern-
ment at a time the country is facing
harsh economic times.
“We believe that the government is
firmly on the path of turning around
the economic performance of the
country from the rundown that it
inherited,” he said.
The party appointed Ramadhan
Bungale as the new secretary general
replacing David Ohito who left.
Deputy party leader Bashir Ab-
dulahi said they were committed
to supporting the government and
addressing the challenges facing the
THE-STAR.CO.KE 23
DAWN ACCIDENT
British national and
Kenyan host killed
in Naivasha crash
GEORGE MURAGE / A restful holiday
and fun in the country ended
tragically for a Briton after she
was killed in a road accident along
the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on
Thursday morning.
A male friend who had picked
her from the airport also died on
the spot while their driver was
seriously injured during the 4am
crash along the busy road.
The accident occurred when
the car heading to Nakuru hit an
oncoming lorry.
The two passengers died on the
spot while the driver was admitted
to Naivasha subcounty hospital in
critical condition. The occupants of
the lorry were unscathed.
Naivasha police boss Stephen
Kirui said the British woman had
been picked up at Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport in Nairobi by
The Deputy President’s spouse, Dorcas Gachagua, serves food to inmates at the friend and the driver, and they
Chuka Prison in Kathwana, Tharaka Nithi county, on November 13 last year /FILE were on their way to Nakuru when
the accident occurred.
and bond,” the governor said in other services. “I have offered He said initial investigations
Kathwana. to pay bonds and fines ranging indicated the car driver swerved
He said congested correctional from Sh20,000 and below for 30 from his lane and rammed head-on
facilities are not even economical people,” he said. Njuki wondered onto the lorry that was heading to
for the government because it why Chuka prison does not equip Nairobi.
has to spend a lot on food and prisoners with skills.
COMMERCIAL
PRINTING
The Star Publications offers the most competitive pricing
for newspaper printing on Newsprint and Bond paper
from 4 to 64 pages.
Our modern facilities give first class quality colour on every page.
United
Our prices are good, delivery is quick and service
Democratic
Movement first class.
party leader
and Mandera
Senator Ali Contacts;
Roba addresses Maurice Munyao - 0733668366. email: maurice.munyao@radioafricagroup.co.ke
the press in
Naivasha after a
3rd Floor, Lion Place, Waiyaki Way
two-day retreat
/ GEORGE P.O. Box 74497 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (Office) 254 20 4244 200
MURAGE Direct: 254 20 444 7410 Fax: 254 20 343755
24 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

COVER

SASA Fun way to learn the

history of city street
Qwani Sketch Tour took us on a path down memory lane on Muindi Mbingu

BY KEITH ANG’ANA /@TheStarKenya

The Sketch team /KEITH ANG’ANA

L
earning the history of Kenya
has been one of the most inter-
esting paths I’ve pursued lately.
To know what happened in
a particular place some decades
ago is like time-travelling to that
period.
And thanks to our broad imag-
inative capacities as humans, our
brains can picture all the scenes as
they unfolded, albeit in black and
white.
Well, we have history films to
blame for programming us to be-
lieve that the world before 1980
lacked any colour.
A great storyteller knows how
to spice up the story and make it
ya from the 1960s. But he didn’t do
it in the ordinary style of an inves-
tigative story.
Rather, he added some twists
and narrated it like an action mov-
With the rush of
Africanisation after
Independence, all
these streets got
ie, from the point-of-view of the
robbers who were being hunted by
Shaw.
It was one of the most interesting
history sessions I’ve ever attended,
and so I decided to try out his path
in the event I also decide to become
a history storyteller.
My first task, therefore, came this
previous Sunday, when I decided to
teach the history of Muindi Mbin-
gu Street. But I wasn’t going to do
it in the ordinary way, like lectures
in university. Neither was I going
to do it like Ngartia’s. I didn’t want
my whole audience seated and just
staring at me. So what did I do?

spellbinding. African names. SKETCH TOUR

I was lucky to encounter one
such storyteller during The NYrobi
Book Fest last year. Hosted by Alli-
ance Française from from October
13 to 15, it provided an opportunity
for literature creatives to showcase
their works.
On the second day, Ngartia, one
of the most renowned historians
from Too Early for Birds, was slated
to have a storytelling session. And,
knowing his prowess, the whole
auditorium was packed 30 minutes
before the start time.
For more Sasa
stories, scan the
During that session, he narrated
the story of Patrick Shaw, one of the
QR code above most-feared police officers in Ken-
I decided to make it a Sketch Tour.
Hardinge Street What this meant was that we
became Kimathi would walk together along the
whole street, stop at important
Street, Eliot Street landmarks, where I would teach
them the history of the particu-
became Wabera lar place, and then they would sit
Street, Stewart somewhere and sketch anything
around them.
Street became I figured out that would be a
rather interactive way to learn
Muindi Mbingu history; by incorporating it with a
Street, and Sadler physical tour, as well as art.
Therefore, I partnered with Uzi-
Street became ma, Karibu Nairobi and Nuts Kenya
to curate the best experience. Uz-
Koinange Street ima was the best sketcher I knew
Friday, February 9, 2024
around, so he would offer assis-
tance to anyone.
Karibu Nairobi would provide
cool merchandise, such as fridge
magnets with images of Nairobi’s
famous landmarks.
And Nuts Kenya, who pride
themselves in having the best nuts
in Kenya, would provide us with
something to bite during the whole
tour.
I had also invited Kevin Mugambi
(violinist) and Wandia Kubai (saxo-
phonist) to play us some tantalising
music as we sketched. I wanted us
to have that Titanic feeling.
The scope of the tour was from
the UoN footbridge all the way to
City Market. So we got to the top of
the bridge at 11.30am, where our
first lesson began.
First, we discussed the origin of
the street name. During the colo-
nial period, all the streets north of
Delamere Avenue (now Kenyatta
Avenue) were named after the Co-
lonial Commissioners.
There was Hardinge Street after
Arthur Hardinge, Eliot Street after
Sir Charles Eliot, Stewart Street
after Donald Stewart, and Sadler
Street, after Sir James Sadler.
With the rush of Africani-
sation after independence, all
these streets got African names.
Hardinge Street became Kimathi
Street, Eliot Street became Wabera
Street, Stewart Street became
Muindi Mbingu Street, and Sadler
Street became Koinange Street.
MAN BEHIND THE NAME
So who was Muindi Mbingu? In
1938, the colonial government
enforced a destocking policy in
Ukambani, seizing 2,000 cattle
from the people after claiming that
the overgrazing had led to environ-
mental degradation.
One man, Muindi Mbingu, mo-
bilised residents to walk 60km all
the way from Machakos to Nairo-
bi. The aim was to negotiate with
the then-Governor, Robert-Brooke
Propham, who finally agreed and
the cattle were released back to
their owners.
Muindi Mbingu, however, was
immediately detained for 15 years,
and upon release, died in the hands
of the Mau Mau, just 10 years before
Independence, after allegedly be-
coming too cosy with the colonial
government.
On one side of the footbridge,
we could see Central police station,
built back in 1904 to serve as the
headquarters of the British Colo-
nial Police.
On March 14, 1922, Harry Thuku
was arrested by the police and de-
tained in these cells. For the next
two days, around 7,000 to 8,000
members of the East African As-
sociation marched to the police
station to demand his release, but
they were told that Harry Thuku
would have to be arraigned in court
for a hearing first for his fate to be
determined.
The men in the crowd gave up
and started walking away, before
one Muthoni Nyanjiru ran to them,
took off her dress, and told them,
“Take this dress and give me your
trousers, because you men are cow-
THE-STAR.CO.KE
ards.” This action caused a scene at
the police station, and the men got
back to protesting, prompting the
police to open fire.
Other settlers who were at the
Norfolk Hotel also joined in the
fire, killing 21 people, among them
four women. Muthoni Nyanjiru
was among the deceased, but was
immortalised for her action of
bravery.
After Independence, the street
was renamed ‘Harry Thuku Road’,
in remembrance of this incident.
KINGSWAY HOUSE
On the other side of the footbridge
lies Kingsway House. After Inde-
pendence, this building housed the
Special Branch offices. One notable
incident that happened here was
the murder of JM Kariuki in 1975.
JM Kariuki is remembered for
saying that, “Kenya has become a
country of 10 millionaires and 10
million beggars” during a rally in
1974.
Afterwards, 700 acres of wheat
were burned down in Rongai in a
farm belonging to Jomo Kenyatta,
and the perpetrators were alleged
to have been incited by JM Kariu-
ki’s remarks.
Therefore, his life was in danger,
and in subsequent weeks, there
were two failed assassination at-
tempts. On March 2, 1975, while
leaving Hilton Hotel, JM Kariu-
ki was abducted by the then GSU
Commandant, Ben Gethi, and es-
corted to Kingsway House, where
he was to be questioned regarding
his incitement. There, JM met Wan-
Lisa’s sketch
of the UoN
footbridge
/KEITH ANG’ANA
Ruth’s sketch of the Jeevanjee toilet /KEITH ANG’ANA
yoike Thungu, who was Jomo Ken-
yatta’s rogue bodyguard.
Wanyoike asked JM Kariuki why
he would insult the President as
if they were age-mates, and be-
fore JM could answer, he was met
with a blow that knocked down his
front teeth. The two got into a fight,
and as JM reached out for the pistol
in his pocket, Gethi shot him in the
shoulder.
Knowing that they had done
a mistake since news about this
could leak if JM was taken to hospi-
tal, Gethi decided to finish him off
and dump his body at the Ngong
Hills Forest. It was there that his
body was finally recovered 10 days
later.
JEEVANJEE GARDENS
After this history lesson, I dis-
missed everyone to different cor-
ners of the footbridge, where they
were free to draw anything around,
be it the footbridge itself or the
towering buildings on University
Way. Gauging the sketches made, I
believe Lisa had the best one.
After half an hour, we proceeded
to our next stop, which was Jeevan-
jee Gardens. Thankfully, the garden
had enough trees and grass, so we
could just sit down like a picnic
and sketch. And so began the his-
tory lesson.
In 1895, just as the Imperial Brit-
ish East Africa Company was de-
parting from the East African Coast
due to bankruptcy, a 40-year-old
man was arriving from British In-
dia.
Armed with the basic English
necessary for conversations, he
convinced the British colonial
government that he could supply
them with labour to help in the
construction of the Kenya-Uganda
railway. The British officers agreed,
and by 1901, the Indian had sup-
plied 31,985 coolies, propelling
him to wealth. His name was Al-
bhai Jeevanjee, and he was the first
Asian to be appointed to the LegCo.
25
In 1906, while at the height of
his wealth, he began the construc-
tion of a garden, which he gifted to
the people of Nairobi as a place to
rest. Thanks to him, therefore, we
had some shade to lie under as we
sketched our surroundings.
Ruth took this chance to show-
case her prowess, when she even
pulled out some watercolours to
paint the sketch she had made of
the public toilet. We were all baf-
fled, wondering why she had come
with an assault rifle to a knife fight.
Kwani hajui jokes?
Once we were done, we moved
on to City Market, which was to be
our final stop for the day.
Back in 1904, before Jeevanjee
had constructed the gardens, he
built a market around the same
area to boost the trade of European
produce. Four years later, however,
the bubonic plague struck the city,
and the unhygienic market was
deemed to be the cause. The Euro-
peans, therefore, declined to use it,
and it was left to the Indians and
the lower-class Africans. In 1932,
it was demolished and replaced by
the shinier City Market, which at-
tracted European traders back.
Rather than sketch it, Wango and
I preferred to sit on its steps and
sketch the Jamia Mosque, which is
on the opposite side.
A group of butchers gathered be-
hind us, and we could hear them
say, “Eh, ona hawa watoto wa-
naangalia tu kitu na wanacho-
ra venye iko. We Njoro unaweza
ivi?” And then they would laugh. I
couldn’t tell whom exactly among
us they were praising, so I presume
we both drew well.
That marked the end of our tour,
and so we proceeded to the Jamia
Mosque, where we had our final
group photo before bidding each
other farewell. It was a lovely tour,
and we hope that next month’s
may be even better. For those in-
terested, you can check us out on
social media as Qwani.
 26
SASA ART
ART CHECK
Rise of beauty therapy as an art
Nibs technical college founder Lizzie Wanyoike left a
mark on the lives of many youth, including my daughter
BY JUSTUS MAKOKHA /@TheStarKenya
L
izzie Wanyoike ( 1951-2024
), the visionary founder of
the popular Technical and
Vocational Education and
Training college Nibs, is gone. She
died last month. However, she left
a remarkable mark on the lives
of many youths, including my
firstborn Nina.
My daughter faced a challenging
situation after completing her
KCSE in 2018 without meeting the
requirements for university entry.
Resolute and firm, she refused to
resit KCSE, characteristic of the
resolute stance of her generation,
often referred to as Gen Z.
In our family’s moment of
despair, Nina’s grandmother,
an avid listener of Kameme
FM radio, shared the inspiring
story of Lizzie Wanyoike and
her unwavering encouragement
for youth of Kenya today not to
succumb to despair.
Instead, Wanyoike advised
many to take matatus of route 237
or 145 on Thika Superhighway,
alight at Ruiru Kimbo and visit
NIBS. Following this guidance,
we visited her at her office, where
she warmly received both my
daughter and me.
Studying Nina’s KCSE result
slip carefully, Lizzie reassured
us, saying, “Daktari, worry not.”
She then asked the young girl
fresh from high school about
JIJI NDOGO POLICE POST
Sophia teaches me
marital economics
Makini gets a rude awakening when he
asks wife for money to buy breakfast
BY DAVID MUCHAI @Davemuchai
N
obody warned me that being
married is tough, especially
for men. Marriage is a new
world with its own unique
set of rules. For starters, I
had the following conversation
with Sophia just this morning:
“Honey,” I said, fixing a belt
around my waist, “I’m running low
on cash. Do you have a hundred
shillings for bread and milk this
morning?”
“Yes,” she said. Then nothing.
“Uhm… so?”
“So, what?”
“Are you going to give it to me?”
“I said ‘yes’, I have the money.
But it’s no.”
“Yes, you have the money and no
you don’t? That makes no sense.”
That’s when she sat up in bed
her aspirations, to which she
confidently expressed her interest
in hairdressing, cosmetology
or beauty therapy. Despite my
academic apprehensions, Lizzie
prophesied that daughter would
thrive in these fields and would
one day support herself and
others.
True to Lizzie’s visionary
guidance, Nina enrolled at Nibs
in 2019, focusing on beauty-
related studies. By 2021, she had
completed her diploma studies. As
the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked
havoc on Kenyan households
and economies, she delved into
cosmetology, earning a minimum
of Sh1,000 a day by 2022.
and fixed me a long stare. “You
want to know what doesn’t make
sense? A husband who can’t buy
his wife breakfast. Why did you
want to marry me if you can’t feed
me?”
“You wanted to marry me, too.
It’s supposed to be fifty-fifty.”
“No, Makini. When it comes to
money, it’s actually one-fifty to
fifty.”
I feel my head about to explode.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“You see, Makini, what I mean
is, what’s mine is one hundred per
cent mine and what’s yours is fifty
per cent mine. And that makes you
one of the luckiest men alive.”
Boom! Head exploded. “How
does that make me lucky?”
“Because, dear husband, I
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Nibs CEO Lizzie
Wanyoike
/FACEBOOK
The impact of her training
became evident as she generously
shared her earnings, often
bringing groceries for the family.
Her financial stability and
entrepreneurial success in the
beauty industry surpassed the
prospects of many of her peers,
who were waiting for teaching
jobs from the Teachers Service
Commission, a process known for
its prolonged waiting period.
***
Hairdressing, cosmetology and
beauty therapy have evolved into
integral components of a thriving
sector within small and medium-
sized enterprises in Kenya today.
Graduates of TVET institutions in
am having to break the laws of
mathematics for your sake.”
“You’re breaking some laws,
alright.”
“What I mean is, in every
other marriage out there, it’s two
hundred-zero. What belongs to the
wife is hers and what belongs to
the husband is hers. Two hundred-
zero. But you know me. I don’t have
a greedy bone in my body.”
“Jesus Christ! I married Dracula,”
I blurt before realising I probably
just made the first blunder of my
marriage.
“No, dear,” she says in a rare
moment of civility. “Dracula sucks
this sector play a crucial role in the
socioeconomics of our societies,
particularly in the context of
youth employment.
This industry not
contributes to personal grooming
only
but also serves as a significant
source of livelihood, fostering
entrepreneurship and economic
growth. The sector’s accessibility,
coupled with the rising demand
for personal care services,
positions it as an attractive avenue
for young entrepreneurs, creating
opportunities for economic
empowerment and community
engagement.
The beauty and grooming
sector, comprising hairdressing,
cosmetology and beauty therapy,
transcends the concerns of mere
personal care; it is an art form.
This connection to art is
palpable in the creative expression
of aesthetic concepts, artistic
techniques and the incorporation
of principles of design and colour
theory. Hair styling, makeup
application and beauty treatments
represent unique forms of artistic
expression, making this sector
an integral part of the broader
artistic practice.
Our governments and
education stakeholders need
to concentrate more on the
symbiotic relationship between
the beauty industry and art.
They should explore in terms of
policy ways that can leverage
this connection to foster creative
education programmes for beauty
professionals. For example,
to date, there are no standard
textbooks for this sector. Is there
a policy gap?
By promoting the incorporation
of cultural heritage into beauty
practices and offering financial
incentives and mentorship
for entrepreneurship, county
blood. I’m letting you keep yours.
For now. But if I don’t get breakfast
in the next half hour, I might not be
so accommodating, if you catch my
drift.”
I think of a way to get around the
problem. “What about you lend me
the money then?”
Sophia throws her head back
and laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“Your naivety, dear. Don’t you
know the first law of economics?”
“I don’t, but I have a feeling I’m
about to learn.”
“The first law of economics says
that you should never do business
Friday, February 9, 2024
governments can play a pivotal
role in enhancing the artistic and
creative ecosystem in a society.
The sector’s adaptability
and resilience have become
increasingly evident, especially
in the face of global challenges
such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the pandemic disrupted
numerous industries, the
beauty and grooming sector
demonstrated its ability to
navigate challenges and emerge
as a resilient force in the economic
framework by networking with
digital and social media spaces.
The gamble has paid off in a major
way. Many beauty therapists,
including my daughter, have a
strong presence on social media
platforms, where the young and
youth, clienteles included, spend
most of their social time.
Affordable TVET holds
paramount significance in the
context of developing economies
like Kenya. This form of education
serves as a powerful tool for
addressing the pressing issues
of unemployment, poverty and
skill gaps, offering a practical and
accessible pathway to economic
empowerment and sustainable
development.
For low-income families,
TVET provides a cost-effective
alternative to traditional higher
education, allowing individuals to
pursue specialised skills without
incurring the high expenses
associated with university
degrees.
This is particularly crucial in
our motherland, where most jobs
are in technical and vocational
sectors. By focusing on practical
skills, TVET ensures that
individuals are well-prepared for
the demands of the workforce,
increasing their chances of
securing stable employment and
with family or friends. It’s either
money or friendship, or money
and marriage,” she says.
“Now, I could lend you the
hundred shillings you want, but if
I didn’t get it back, I’d have to send
some people around to collect. And
that means you might end up with
a few broken bones.”
“A few broken… what are you, the
mafia?”
“Exactly. You don’t want your
wife being the one responsible for
your limp, do you?”
“Dear Lord. What side of the
bed did you wake up on? You were
never this vicious before.”
“I was never married to you
before. Didn’t your fellow boys
warn you about what you were
getting into when you decided to
get hitched?”
I grab my chin in thought. “Now
that you mention it, one of them
heard I was marrying you and
said—”
“Do you know the first law of
self-preservation? It’s simple. You
never say anything negative about
your wife. Especially not to her
face.” She laughs again, gets into
her purse and produces a hundred-
shilling note. “Here, go get us some
breakfast.”
“Thanks, honey.”
As I leave, she shouts: “It’s a
loan, dear. Money or marriage,
remember?”
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 27

SASA LIVING
some people so much that they
G-SPOT feel something must be done.
One of those in this camp
is Homa Bay Town MP Peter
BY MWANGI G /@MwangiGithahu Kaluma, who last year published
his Family Protection Bill
sexual health and a visibility that
honoured LGBTQI realities. It
also honours those who’ve died,
which is a small way of telling
them they are not forgotten.”
I was humbled and, if I may

Book chronicles lives

2023, which aims to ban
homosexuality, same-sex
unions and LGBTQ activities
and campaigns. It also intends to
prohibit gay parades, assemblies,
say so, ever so slightly amused,
to have been asked to share my
story, which I did by way of a
telephone interview one evening
more than two years ago.

of local queer ‘elders’

marches and public cross-
dressing.
The book, entitled We’ve Been
Here, is the first in a series of
books telling the stories of the
Those aged 50 and above recount years of hiding in plain sight queer community, and it was
compiled by three dear friends
of mine.
This project is a chronicling of
our lives for generations yet to
come and younger people who
may think they are alone, or the
our presence first of their line, as it were, to
known in a let them know, as the title of the
loud and proud book says: We’ve Been Here.
manner. The book, aimed at adults,
This despite has recently gone on sale and
the fact, in Nairobi at least, it is now
repeated available at Cheche Books in
by Nairobi Lavington.
Senator Edwin As the editors of the book
Sifuna during point out, it is not “an exhaustive
a morning history of the LGBTQI presence
TV talk show in Kenya, but rather a snapshot of
recently, a particular time and place told
that there by people from all over Kenya”.
is no law in In the words of Kevin
Kenya against Mwachiro, one of the book’s
being gay. The editors: “This book celebrates a
criminal or generation of individuals who
In the book, I tell some stories
that I have shared here in this
column and in other interviews
for other publications, and I
mention some of the people
who have supported me in my
journey.
Out of respect for their
privacy, I didn’t name any of
these people, but on reflection,
I think I should have at least
mentioned my greatest supporter
and cheerleader as far as my
homosexuality and its impact on
my family was concerned, and
that was my most amazing and
wonderful sister, Nimu.
Meanwhile, I said at the
start of this column that the
book’s launch was not widely
publicised, and that it reminded
me of some of the very secret
queer dances that some of my
friends helped organise many
years ago.
One of these took place in 2003
at a time when we, as the queer
community, were hopeful that a
change of regime might lead to
a change in our legal and social

J
ust before Christmas, I was
privileged to attend the top-
secret launch of a magnificent
book that tells the stories of
Kenyan queer people aged 50 and
above, including your humble
columnist, in their own words.
The launch had to be a tightly
controlled affair for security
reasons because despite many
years of activism by the queer
community and its allies, it is still
not safe for many of us to gather
just anywhere we like and make
the Penal Code puts a penalty
on having sexual conduct that
is against the order of nature,
including between a man and a
woman.
Of course, the fact that there
is no law against being gay irks
navigated their queer identity
and same-gender love or sexual
expression in the shadows of
daily Kenyan life.
“They lived through a time
when there was little access
to information on sexuality,
circumstances.
The party organisers were
daring enough to host the party
at an institution that literally
shared a fence with State House,
Nairobi. How’s that for hiding in
plain sight?

SOCIETY TALK

Stop coming up with new

ways to de-Kenyanise us
Expiration date on IDs is a crazy idea
People wait to
@realobserver be served at the
BY NABILA HATIMY Huduma Centre
in Nairobi /FILE

S
urely, wajinga ni sisi.
I have just come from Twit-
ter, where there is a debate
on having expiration dates
on Kenyan IDs. This conver-
sation should not be happening in
the first place, but we will get back
to this later.
I want to start off by revisiting a
baffling tweet I just saw under the
conversation (without hashtag)
‘National ID’ on the social media
platform. A young Kenyan woman
proudly boasts about how Kenyan
IDs are useless as she once failed to
open an account with her passport
and Kenyan ID in Texas.
Texas, ladies and gentlemen! As
in, the United States of America.
As in, a whole other country and
continent. Surely, must we bring
our stupidity out to shine in front
of millions of people as we try to
denigrate our motherland?
I mean, I was so dumbfounded
by that tweet that I could not help
but address the issue. National
means within a country, ID is short
for identification card. Put togeth-
er, the term national ID means a
document used to validate one’s
identity in that particular coun-
try. How hard is this? Why would
anyone in their right mind believe
that a national ID is valid in anoth-
er country?
Which brings us back to the main
issue at hand. According to the re-
ports I see on social media, the
government plans to implement
an ID with an expiration date and
a microchip that will help us open
bank accounts in foreign countries.
The story is too ludicrous to be true,
so in the meantime, let us treat it as
the hypothetical issue it is.
First and foremost, the last time
a Kenyan will use a national ID on
foreign soil is when they sign in to
enter an embassy in Nairobi. These
foreigners give two hoots about
our local identification cards. The
moment you step on their soil, all
they care about is your passport
and visa. The validity of your visa
will dictate how long you stay, get
accommodation, open an account
or be registered in any type of insti-
tution. The moment your visa is up,
everything will be frozen.
The only time a Kenyan will
need a Kenyan ID on foreign soil is
at the Kenyan embassy. One must
provide the Kenyan ID for most
administrative procedures, such as
birth registrations and passport re-
newals. Essentially, it would be the
THE ID CARD IS A SACRED
DOCUMENT TO EVERY KENYAN
WHO HAS APPLIED FOR ONE
same process that you would have
gone through in Kenya. If anything,
foreign officials hate being given
documents from a country that has
no relation to them.
So the story about getting IDs for
the sake of opening bank accounts
on foreign land is a complete lie. If
the government were to insist on
the matter, then we would require
gazetted notices from world lead-
ers across the globe. Also evidence
from our ‘leaders’ on how they
opened their Swiss bank accounts
with their Kenyan IDs.
Secondly and perhaps more im-
portantly, the ID is a sacred doc-
ument to every Kenyan who has
applied for one. The process in it-
self is so rigorous and consuming
that by the time you get the cov-
eted document, you hold it more
dear than any other thing in your
wallet. How many stories have we
had of people getting robbed and
begging the thieves to please take
everything except the ID?
Having an ID is a right to every
Kenyan above 18 years of age. This
is why getting an ID has been free
since Independence. IDs can’t ex-
pire just as nationalities cannot ex-
pire. We are born Kenyans and we
die Kenyans. At this rate, at some
point, we will have to renew our
birth certificates to prove that we
are, in fact, continuously residents
of our own land.
 28
SASA REALITY CHECK
Will artificial intelligence
kill the jobs of creatives?
Its weaknesses have been exposed amid increasing uptake, as Posta learned
GODFREY KIMEGA
@TheStarKenya
A
re camera crews, script-
writers, actors, costume de-
signers and scene designers
about to become irrelevant
in the production of images and
videos? That seems to be the case
as production companies, graph-
ic designers and advertisers
adopt artificial intelligence (AI)
tools to generate realistic-look-
ing content.
Computer-generated images are
not a new phenomenon, having
been used in films as far back as
the 1960s. Until recently, using
computers to generate images
and videos was a very expensive,
time-consuming process involving
a team of people.
AI has made it easy enough for
a single person to produce an im-
age in hours. In that sense, AI has
helped media professionals do
more work within a short time,
but is the improved productivity
coming at the expense of jobs?
Brian Leonard, a graphic design-
er with Lenny Arts in Nairobi, has
embraced AI to test and tweak new
ideas to produce unique artwork.
He discovered that AI has powerful
features he can harness.
“The introduction and integra-
tion of AI to my workflow has been
a great thing! I’m able to put out so
much more accurate, near-per-
fect work with the same energy as
I would back before AI,” Leonard
says.
“I’m able to come up with awe-
some scripts as if it’s something
I have done for a very long time.”
TIME AND PATIENCE
Leonard warns that it takes time
and patience to learn the basics of
AI, but learning is limitless. The
bottom line is not to be lazy with
new technology.
“If I can learn, unlearn and re-
learn certain things effectively,
there’s so much I can do without
limitation,” Leonard says.
Job Ogweno, head of Noma Cre-
atives, does not see AI as a threat
to creatives because using AI de-
mands “a great deal of creativity
to get the best out of it”.
“While I appreciate Generative
AI as the next if not current fron-
tier in the digital and design world
at large, however hyper-realistic
some generative images may be, I
often feel they lack ‘soul’, which is
a big deal for any authentic artist,”
Ogweno says.
He has tested AI in his profes-
sional capacity and finds it “in-
credible” for doing tasks such as
copywriting, proofreading, re-
search and summaries. Ogweno
is yet to be wooed into using AI to
create images, videos, voiceovers
and narrations.
“I understand why visual cre-
ators or even corporations might
attempt re-routing towards AI cre-
ations either to cost-cut or because
it’s quick and might not be copy-
right-bound, but in the end, for me,
real images win any day in the arts
and design world,” Ogweno says.
Long associated with small busi-
nesses with tiny advertising bud-
gets, AI is increasingly being used
by mainstream organisations in
THE-STAR.CO.KE
their publicity campaigns. This is
why fears of job losses are growing.
2023 saw a rapid increase in
Kenyan companies using images
produced with AI. The images have
appeared in advertisements for
mobile phone services, consumer
products, postal services and edu-
cational institutions. The increased
adoption of AI in corporate circles
is exposing its weaknesses, though.
So far, the most baffling AI ad-
vertisement was done by the Postal
Corporation of Kenya. The image
showing employees in a call centre
was meant to portray the Postal
Corporation as a customer-orient-
ed business, but AI “hallucinated”
instead of producing the desired
results.
While I appreciate
Generative AI as the
next if not current
frontier in the digital
and design world
at large, however
hyper-realistic some
generative images
may be, I often feel
they lack ‘soul’, which
is a big deal for any
authentic artist
A laid-off person
/PEXELS
IMAGE BACKFIRES
Of the four call centre agents in
the image, two of them had three
hands each. Two of the four were
clearly of European origin. The
Postal Corporation of Kenya is not
known to employ non-indigenous
Kenyans. The image was removed
following public ridicule, but the
incident adequately illustrated the
dangers of using AI in corporate
communication. Graphic designer
Brian Leonard says paying atten-
tion to details is necessary to avoid
embarrassing pictures.
“I mean as a Kenyan, you’re able
to just look at a picture and note
that this is not a Kenyan or African
model. If your marketing person
or creative is not able to note these
mistakes before putting them out
to the general public, it raises the
question: what can we entrust you
Illustration of artificial intelligence /PIXABAY
Friday, February 9, 2024
with? Are your services similar to
what you put out?” Leonard says.
Elsewhere in the world, content
creators are using AI to analyse
massive amounts of data that
would have taken humans years
to process. A good example is the
production in 2018 of an adver-
tisement for the Lexus brand of
luxury cars.
According to the Journal of Art,
Design and Music, the producers of
the Lexus advertisement worked
with tech company IBM to examine
15 years’ worth of video, text and
audio from successful motor vehi-
cle advertisements. Within a short
time, AI discovered components
that were present in award-win-
ning advertisements. With those
findings, AI helped create the
script flow and outline for the new
advertisement.
The ability of AI to quickly anal-
yse massive amounts of data in a
variety of formats helps content
creators to better understand the
preferences of targeted audiences.
As Media Council of Kenya CEO
David Omwoyo recently noted,
content developers who use AI
stand to remain viable in business.
“We are no longer in an era where
families consumed content as a
unit through common television
screens. The younger generation
is more concerned about person-
alised content, which they can
select using mobile devices. This
is an opportunity for content de-
velopers to ensure all their content
is aggregated to suit personalised
consumer trends,” Omwoyo said at
the Connected Summit 2023.
Based on the opinions of ex-
perts in the media industry, we
should expect AI to play a greater
role in the production of music,
pictures, advertisements, films
and television content. Anyone
wishing to remain relevant in the
film and advertising industry has
no choice but to adopt AI in one
form or another. AI by itself is not
creative, but it is a useful assistant
in creative processes.
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 29
 30 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

The star does not endorse the advertised product /service or its quality and value nor does the star endorse
the appearance of or any of the claims made in the advertisement by the advertiser. The star shall not be held
liable for any claims, loss or liability that arises from the product/service and claims made in the advertisement

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE

Licencesed auctioneers,Commission Agents,Reposses- THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING ACT
sors&Ivestigators (NO. 13 OF 2019) THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING
NOTIFICATION FOR CHANGE OF LAND USE ACT NO 13 OF 2019
PUBLIC AUCTION The registered owner of plot NOTIFICATION FOR CHANGE OF LAND USE
Duly instructed by our principals, the landlords, on matter of PUBLIC AUCTION No.Nairobi/Block 97/0938/106 located
distress, we shall sell the under mentioned items by public Under instructions received from our principles, on behalf of their off Fedha road, Tassia Area ,Nairobi City The registered owner of plot
auction on 16th February 2024 outside cannon tower clients, we shall sell the under mentioned units by PUBLIC County, proposes to change its use from No.Nairobi/Block 170/477 located
building Moi Avenue Mombasa starting from 10am AUCTION together with all the developments and improvements Single dwelling Unit to Multi-dwelling along Mwiki road in Kasarani
erected thereon Units (Apartments),subject to approval Constituency ,Nairobi City County,
LANDLORD –V- CAMP ZODIAC LTD- JOSEPH OKELLO OKEYO by the Nairobi City County. Individuals,
Five big beds, three small beds, three big mattress, seven small Institutions, Members of the public etc.
proposes to change its use from Single
ON FRIDAY 23RD FEBRUARY,2024 AT 11.00AM AT BLACKBIRD dwelling Unit to Multi-dwelling Units
mattress, one small t/v, twenty four pieces of curtains, five nets, with any comments and or objections
two pieces of chairs, ten pieces of bed sheets, one hig stool, one STORAGE$ AUCTION YARD KISUMU AND SK DHAHABU should forward them within 14 days of subject to approval by the Nairobi City
piece of seat, one table gas cooker, one burner table gas cooker, MOTORS LTD NAIROBI this notice to: County.
one coffee table. Two mekos, one small chair & stool, one Individuals, Institutions, Members of the
extension, two coffee tables, one small fan, nineteenhigh stools, ALL THE MENTION UNIT THE CECM- BUILT ENVIRONMENT & public etc. with any comments and or
five high tables, one small dining table, one small round table, URBAN PLANNING,
CUSTOMER NO REG NO YARD AUCTION DATE objections should forward them within
one coffee table, one plastic chair, six broken tables, two small NAIROBI CITY COUNTY,
shelves, four tires, thirty four scrap assorted chairs, assorted N/A KDM 419G BLACKBIRD STORAGE 23/02/2024 P.O BOX 30075-00100, 14 days of this notice to:
pillows, carpets. TOYOTA HIACE $ AUCTION YARD LTD NAIROBI.
THE CECM- BUILT ENVIRONMENT &
LANDLORD –V- AQUITY L.A.C.L. N/A KCD 034J SK DHAHABU 23/02/2024 URBAN PLANNING,
One office desk, one office chair, one shelve, one glass top stool,
two monitors, two key boards, two C.P.U.
TOYOTA AXIO MOTORS LTD PUBLIC NOTICE NAIROBI CITY COUNTY,
CONDITION OF SALE P.O BOX 30075-00100,
FORM PLUPA/DC/3
1.All intending purchasers are requested to view the properties NAIROBI.
OTHERS THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING
Office tables, Hotel tables, One generator, old car radios, second and verify the details for themselves as these are not warranted by ACT NO 13 OF 2019
hand pieces of clothes, old chairs, Glass sliding doors. the auctioneers or their charges.
2.All interested bidders are to view the properties between
NOTIFICATION FOR PROPOSED
CHANGE OF USE
PUBLIC NOTICE
10.00am and 5.00 pm and our office will assist to point of the THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING ACT
THE REGISTERED OWNER OF LR.NO.
properties subject to prior arrangement.
LISTER AUCTIONEERS
NDUMBERI/TINGANGA/T.301 (NO 13 OF 2019)
3.The sale is subjected to reserved price. LOCATED WITHIN TINGANGA, PROPOSES CHANGE OF USER
4.The auctioneers reserve the right to reject any bid without TO CHANGE ITS USE FROM
giving any reason AGRICULTURAL TO MULTI-DWELLING The registered owner (s) of Plot No. Ruiru
RESIDENTIAL USE (FLATS) SUBJECT TO Ruiru East Block 2/8493 located off
Repossessors, Private Investigators, Realization of Securities, Debt Collectors, Real APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY Thika Road in Gwa kairo area, Juja
Estate, Commission Agent And General Traders. GOVERNMENT OF KIAMBU. INDIVIDUALS, Sub-County, Kiambu County proposes to
HEAD OFFICE JOEL MALEL STREET Auctioneers, Repossessors, Investigators & Debt Collectors INSTITUTIONS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Change the use from Agricultural to
KOMORA,CENTRE 4TH FLOOR, ROOM 419 TEL: 0722 384 621
Webcom House VAT 0144563P Cell: 0720 105 337 ETC. WITH COMMENTS AND OR Residential Multi-dwelling (Flats),
P. O. BOX 1428 – 30100, ELDORET. 0720 564 699
Ground Floor, RoomG21 PIN NO: 1001123275G 0710 400 111 OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL ARE
P.O Box 13041 – 20100 REQUESTED TO FORWARD THEM IN
subject to approval by Kiambu County
PUBLIC AUCTION NAKURU Email: directoauctiooneers@gmail.com
WRITING WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS Government. Any individual (s),
OF THIS NOTICE TO: institution(s) and organization(s) etc. with
Under instructions received from the Chief Magistrate’s Court objections/comments to the proposal to
Eldoret, we shall sale the under mentioned property by Public Duly instructed by the Financiers/ principals, we shall on Tuesday THE CECM - LAND, HOUSING, forward them in writing within fourteen
Auction on 20TH day of February 2024 at Eldoret Auction Yard 20th February, 2024 starting at 10:00AM at CYKA MERCHANT PHYSICAL PLANNING & URBAN (14) days of this notice to:
starting at 10:30 am. YARD sell by public auction the below captioned asset. DEVELOPMENT
COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIAMBU THE CECM
ELDORET CMCC NO. 85 OF 2020. 1.RE:-NEW DEW CREDIT COMPANY LIMITED -VS- EDWIN KATEEI P.O. BOX 2344-00900,
KIAMBU
LANDS, HOUSING AND PHYSICAL
MUSA YARAKA SITATI vs DANIEL KETER & JAMES WATHIGA KATAMPOI PLANNING
MV REG NO KBT 642Y TOYOTA LAND CRUSSIER MODEL HZJ79R KIAMBU COUNTY GOVERNMENT
MOTOR VEHICLE REG NO: KCB 042L SALOON NAME OF THE REGISTERED PLANNER:
MARVIN MUTWIRI MUGAMBI P.O BOX 2344˜00900
CONDITIONS OF SALE
CONDITION OF SALE a)All interested are requested to view the vehicles during normal REG. NO: 0323 Kiambu
1. STRICTLY cash or bankers cheque at the fall of the hammer working hours at the point of storage. Contact mr muraguri 0724
2. Interested bidders to contact the Auctioneer for viewing. 859 351 for more details.
b)Sale is subject to reserve price. REPUBLIC OF KENYA
ALL ARE WELCOME c)Purchaser are required to register their name a day prior to IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
auction with their national id and pin numbers at our above THE INSOLVENCY ACT
captioned offices INSOLVENCY CAUSE E010 OF 2021
d)Upon vetting purchasers, the auctioneers reserve the right to RE: WYCLIFFE WEPUKHULU WASIKE
CRESCENT AUCTIONEERS Licensed Auctioneers
reject an offer without explanation
e)Highest purchasers declared during auction must pay full price HEARING NOTICE
Office: KTDA Plaza Branch: Tengeza House
before release of the said asset.
6th Floor, Moi Avenue 2nd Floor Suit No. 5 f)Costs of transfer shall be borne by the bidder TO: ALL CREDITORS
P.O Box 9484 – 00200 P.O Box 1814 – 50200
Email: info@crescentauctioneers.co.ke Email: info@crescentauctioneers.co.ke
Cell: +254 0706 662277 Cell: +254 706 662277 TAKE NOTICE that the above Petition has been scheduled for Hearing on 18th
+254 723705736, Nairobi.

PUBLIC AUCTION
+254 721 898128 Bungoma.
CADUA AUCTIONEERS March, 2024 at 9:00am before noon or soon thereafter when your appearance will
be required in court
Official Court Brokers & Auctioneers /Bailiff Repossessors/ Process server,
Under instructions received from our principals the FINANCIERS and
Debt Collection/ Estate Agents/Conveyancing experts/Investigators
our PRINCIPALS we shall sell by way of Public Auction the under listed Moi Avenue Development house, 8th floor
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if you do not appear on the said date and time, the
motor vehicle on: P.O.BOX 7380-00200 Tel: +254 721935835 Court will proceed to make directions that it may deem fit and orders may be given
Email: caduaauctioneers2020@gmail.com your absence notwithstanding.
1) Saturday 17th February, 2024 starting at 10:00am At PURPLE NAIROBI –KENYA
ROYAL STORAGE AUCTION YARD
PUBLIC AUCTION DATED at NAIROBI this 8TH day of February, 2024.
NO. REG. NO: MAKE/MODEL REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
1. KDJ 846N HONDA FIT SAMUEL MWAURA WANYOIKE Duly Instructed by our principal, we shall sell by public auction BRYAN KHAEMBA, KAMAU KAMAU AND CO.ADVOCATES
AND OUR PRINCIPAL the under mentioned motor vehicles on Monday19th February ADVOCATE FOR THE PETITIONER
2024.
2) Saturday 17th February, 2024 starting at 10:00am At AT GREY POST YARD starting from 11:00 AM. DRAWN AND FILED BY:
EXECUTIVE YARD KIAMBU ROAD BRYAN KHAEMBA, KAMAU KAMAU & COMPANY
CLIENT NAME REG NO MAKE COLOR YARD
ADVOCATES
NO. REG. NO: MAKE/MODEL REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANNASTACIA KDE 680R TOYOTA NOAH WHITE GREY POST CHAII HOUSE,
2. KBF 116B TOYOTA NZE NICHOLUS FREDRICK OCHIENG
ONYANGO AND OUR PRINCIPAL MUSANGI 6TH FLOOR,
MUNYOKI KOINANGE STREET,
CONDITIONS OF SALE ANNITAH KCM 816Q NISSAN JUKE GREY GREY POST OPPOSITE CITY MARKET,
1.Cash at the fall of the hammer P.O BOX 1300-00200
WARUGUGU
2.The sale is subject to a reserved price NAIROBI
3.All interested purchasers are required to view and verify the details of TEL:0794692207
the property for themselves and this is not warranted by the Auctioneer CONDITION OF SALE Email:bryankhaemba.kamauadvocates@gmail.com
or our client.
4.The subject sale is subjected to reserve price
Cash at the fall of the Hammer.
All are welcome.

IEDS EVERY CLASSIFIED

CLASSIF LISTING IN KENYA WWW.STARCLASSIFIEDS.CO.KE
 Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 31

PUBLIC NOTICE BUSINESS PUBLIC NOTICE

THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING
ACT NO 13 OF 2019
CHANGE OF USE
The owner of land parcel no.
Nandi/Cheptarit/519 intends to change
its use from Agricultural to Residential
(multi dwelling units) subject to
approval by the County Government of
Nandi. Individuals, organizations,
institutions etc with objection(s) to the
proposal are requested to forward the
same in writing within fourteen (14)
days of this notice to:
WE ARE A COMPANY(GNS) offe-
ring on_time food delivery to custo- We are an Investment Company looking
mers for various hotels, restaurants
etc using bodaboda in kisumu cbd to Lease Petrol Stations in Kenya.
and its environs DIGITAL CONTENT
REPURPOSING SERVICES e.g
copywriting, podcast etc DETAI-
LS CALL TECHNICAL MANAGER
0743249306 0716462733 Preferred Locations: Nairobi, Machakos,

CECM in charge of Lands and Physical

Planning,
County Government of Nandi
P.O BOX 802-30300,
KAPSABET
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE PHYSICAL AND LAND USE PLANNING
ACT NO 13 OF 2019
NOTIFICATION FOR PROPOSED
DENSIFICATION OF USE
The registered Owner(s) of Plot L.R. No.:
209/5360 located within South C Area in
Langata Sub-County off Mombasa Road,
proposes to Densify its of Use from
Single Dwelling to Residential
Multi-Dwelling Units (Apartments)
subject to approval by Nairobi City
County Government. Individuals,
organizations, institutions etc. with
objections or comments should forward
them in writing within 14 days from the
date of this notice to:
The CECM Urban Planning and Built
Environment,
Nairobi City County Government,
P.O. Box 30075-00100, Nairobi.
HOME_BASED Personal and pri-
vate tutor in business and compu-
ter studies both secondary/colle-
ges in kisumu details 0716462733
0713957136
FOR LOAN APPROVAL,we prepare
audited accounts.Call 0740811213
now.
WEBSITE EDITOR, YouTube ma-
nager and videographer, radio ads,
Master of Ceremony (MCs) and
events planner call gepoch networ-
ks services on 071646273ECH-
NICAL MANAGER 0743249306
0716462733
FOR BUSINESS recovery solutions
call 0740811213 now.
FREE GEPOCH NETWORKS ser-
vices provides business brainstor-
ming ideas and freelancing general
construction sub contract services
call Lawrence on 074324930 digital
Kisii, Kisumu, Kitale
CLASSIFIEDS
Terms: NOTICE
1. Minimum proven sales of 250M3 READERS&ADVERTISERS
You are kindly requested to
(250,000 litres) Monthly get appropriate advice
before committing yourself
2. Ample parking space to undertaking anything in
relation to an
advertisement in terms of
3. Direct ownership sending money or incurring
expenses. Radio Africa
Group shall not be liable to
any person(s) for any loss,
damage or suffering as a
Only serious agents should contact us on result of accepting any
invitation(s) or offer(s)
the below email address: contained in
advertisement(s) published
in The Star.
stationforlease@outlook.com

P o box 13439-00800
CLASSIFIED RATES
Tel: 0722264694 / 0780264694
Enkei Centre 3rd Floor, Suite 306 PROMOTION TO GLORY (KSHS)
Opposite National Oil –Ngara Road
Email: beyondvisionauctioneerss@gmail.com
SEMI DISPLAY
Moita AUCTIONEERS & COMMISSION AGENTS
MOTORING/ENTERTAINMEN
PUBLIC AUCTION T/AUCTION/ PROPERTY
Duly instructed by our principal we shall sell the under /OBITUARIES.
mentioned motor vehicle by public auction on Friday 16th
Semi Display (boxed
February 2024 at Mt. Kenya Storage Yard-Meru at 11.00 a.m
classified) Mon-Sat 1,200/=
+ VAT per
DEBTOR REG. NO. MAKE/MODEL
centimetre column
BONIFACE KINOTI KCG 232S ISUZU FRR LORRY
GATOBU Per line per day (Mon-Sat)
300/= +VAT
CONDITIONS OF SALE
1. Interested bidders are required to pay refundable deposit of Letters of Admin 800/=
Kshs 50,000/- to obtain a bidding number. +VAT per
2. Sale subject to reserve price. centimetre column
3. Strictly cash at the fall of the hammer.
Voucher fee 2,500/= + VAT

AGNES SIYIANKOI MOITA Note: Minimum sized on

boxed ads is 4cm
SUNRISE: 1ST JAN 1966 – SUNSET: 1ST FEB 2024
Our beloved Aggie unexpectedly transitioned to glory on 1st February, 2024. payment terms
PUBLIC AUCTION Her demise has shattered the hearts of her family, friends and her community, which
she wholeheartedly served. Cash payments shall not be
Under instruction received from our principals we shall sell the accepted. Please note that
under mentioned motor vehicles. Aggie was the beloved daughter of the late Mzee Tobiko Ole Paloshe and the late Marisa sales and advertising
ON FRIDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2024 AT OUR OFFICES IN Tobiko. She was a step-daughter to Mama Maria Siyiaito Tobiko. She was a devoted wife executives are not
GATAKAINI 2 HOUSE 2ND FLOOR ROOM 213 AT 11:00 AM. to Mr. Moita Ole Risa and mother to Kotoke, Reyian, Marisa, Daudi and Tevyn. She was authorised to receive any
a doting grandmother to Namayiana and a cherished mother-in-law to Ian Mugambi. cash payments on behalf of
REG NO MAKE BODY YR OF TO BE VIEWED AT The Star. The Star shall not
TYPE MAKE Aggie was a beloved sister to Keriako, Pst. Emmy, Kaka, Richie T, Dr. Oidamae, Nais, be held responsible for any
KBM 983C N/SUNNY SALOON 2003 EXECUTIVE Tanet, Nkini, the late Ranger, Ann, Sereya, Peris and Nancy. She was a sister-in-law to loss or liability caused by
KBS 482P T/PROBOX S.WAGON 2005 EXECUTIVE
KDA 789X N/WINGROAD S.WAGON 2013 KIFEDHA Sereti, Jeremiah, the late Nelson, Mois, Daitan, Paul, Grace, Jane Komen, the late Joseph failure to adhere to
Teteyio, Carol, Betty Mutua, Nixon Ng’ang’a, Violet Moetei, James Katema, the late these payment terms.
Matinkoy Mula, James Shelel, Kishanto Ole Suuji and Ronald Makui.
CONDITION OF SALE
1.All intending purchasers are requested to verify the details for
PAYMENTS STRICTLY
Aggie will be laid to rest on Saturday, 10th February, 2024 at her home in Ilmukutani, VIA MPESA PAYBILL
themselves.
Kajiado County.
2.Viewing can be done through arrangements with ourselves. NUMBER 793601
3. The Auctioneer has the right to reject any bid without giving
any reason. Isaiah 25:8…He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away
4. Cash at the fall of the Hammer. the tears from all faces.
 32 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday-Sunday, February 9-11, 2024

ALL IN THE STARS

Fill the grid with
digits so that each
column, each row,
and each of the
sub-grids that
compose the grid
all contain all of
the numbers from
1 to 9 one time.
AQUARIUS
January 21 - February 19
Travel will be in your best interest.
Talk to others about your plans.
Concentrate on getting finances.

PISCES
Thursday February 20 - March 20
solutions
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get
your way emotionally. You may find
that lectures or travel will be good.

ARIES
March 21 - April 20

DOWN ACROSS Involvement in groups will be favorable.

1. Constituency in Kilifi County (5) 1. Constituency in Nakuru County (6) Business partnerships will prove
Find and mark all the lucrative.
2. Hawaiian tree (5)
4. Chemical element with atomic mass of words hidden inside the
3. Chemical element with atomic mass of
207.2 (4)
114.82 (6) box. The words may taurus
7. Maintaining body balance and posture (3) be placed horizontally, April 21 - May 21
4. Coloured part of the eye, it has radial and
vertically, or diagonally.
circular muscles which control size of pupil 8. Constituency in Homa Bay County (6)
Refrain from using the highway as a
(4) 9. Element used in the formation of BARK ID TAG
racetrack. You may find that you are a
BATH JUMP
5. Inhabitants of Ireland (5) thhyroxine hormone, regulates rate of little lucky today.
BONE KENNEL
6. Confronts (5)
11. Is funnel shaped allows collection of sound
energy production (6) BOWLS
CANINE
LEASH
LICK
GEMINI
10. Moon age at start of year (5) May 22 - June 21
waves and channels them down the auditory CHASE LOYAL
14. Vedic deity (5) CHEW TOY OWNER
auditory mateus (5) Don’t be too eager to give a piece of
COLLAR PANT
12. Constituency in Tharaka-Nithi County (5) 17. Annulling (7) your mind or even your opinion today.
COMPANION PAWS
13. Constituency in Nakuru County (5) 18. Constituency in Kilifi County (5) FAITHFUL PLAY
You’ll have amazing ideas.
15. Constituency in West Pokot County (5) 20. Constituency in Migori County (5) FEED PUPPY
FETCH ROLL OVER
16. Bower (5)
18. Constituency in Migori County (5)
25. Period of legal minority (6) FOOD SHAMPOO CANCER
26. ____ speeds breakdown of lipids to fatty FRIEND SLEEP June 22-July 22
19. Constituency in Siaya County (5) GROOM TRAIN
acids and glycerol (6) Changes in your domestic scene are
21. Constituency in Garissa County (5) GROWL TREATS
apparent. Your passionate mood will
22. Final part of the small intensive (5) 27. Primate (3) GUARD TRIM NAILS
be well received by your mate.
HAIR WAG TAIL
23. Food source for the Nitrogen element (4) 28. Hautboy player (6)
HARNESS WALK
24. To the sheltered side (4) 29. Preserve corpse (6) HOUSE WATER LEO
July 23 - August 22

Chinese fury as Messi plays in entertainment Find a quiet spot where you can work
diligently and stay out of the way. You

Japan after missing HK match Keep my songs off YouTube VIRGO

will have to do a lot of running around.

mixes – Marakwet Daughter August 23 - September 23

This is a good day to check out your
investments. Don’t let relatives make
DENNIS MILIMO/ Singer Millicent Jerotich, also known as
demands of you.
Marakwet Daughter, has stirred controversy after asking
Lionel Messi on DJs not to use her songs in their mixes.
the bench during The singer said she is against the idea of DJs playing her LIBRA
the Hong Kong songs yet she can’t benefit directly from their YouTube September 24 - October 23
friendly streams.
/HANDOUT She categorically warned that those who go against her You may want to invest in something
wish will have it rough. that will grow in value. You need a
“DJs respect my work. You are not allowed to upload change and you need to earn more.
my music on your YouTube channels. Do you know what
I went through to be able to record that song? I won the SCORPIO
rights and it is registered. So don’t upload my work on your
ODDLY ENOUGH

BBC/ Lionel Messi played in a Japan
friendly after missing a match in
Hong Kong, leaving Chinese fans
seething and sparking conspiracy
theories.
State media outlet Global Times
accused the footballer and his club
Inter Miami of “political motives”
with the aim of “embarrassing”
Hong Kong.
Messi remained on the bench
throughout Sunday’s match in the
Chinese special administrative
region, citing injury.
Wednesday’s game in Tokyo led
some fans to question whether
he’d been injured.
Some 38,000 fans at the
Hong Kong Stadium booed and
demanded refunds when Inter
Miami co-owner David Beckham
addressed the crowd at the end of
Sunday’s match.
They had paid up to HK$4,880
(Sh99,955) to watch the 36-year-
old Argentine superstar.
Just last year, Messi received a
rock star welcome in Beijing when
he played for his country in a friend-
ly against Australia. Some 68,000
fans paid up to $680 (Sh109,140)
for the chance to see him in action.
He is also a spokesperson for big
Chinese brands such as Huawei,
Chery, Tencent, Mengniu, Chishui
River Wine and J&T Express.
October 24 - November 22
channel. Piga sherehe, tumia song ukule za event, but not Family members will not be happy
YouTube,” she warned. with the amount of time you are
The singer went on to clarify that only one DJ has been spending away from home.
doing that, and she doesn’t want to generalise issues.
“I want to be clear, it’s not all DJs, it’s only one,” she said.
SAGITTARIUS
November 23 - December 21
Lend an ear to children; it can make
a difference. Get involved in creative
projects that will enhance your cash.
Singer Millicent CAPRICORN
Jerotich, aka December 22 - January 20
Marakwet You will have a tendency to put on
Daughter pounds.You will find your vitality is
/HANDOUT lowered.
Friday, February 9, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 33

SPORTS SPORTS LOCAL

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

Stern warning
McKinstry tears into Gor for failing to live up to expectations
BY TONY MBALLA
@tonymballa
Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan
McKinstry wants his charges to
perform in a manner that reflects
the club’s monumental status.
The Irish tactician went berserk
after the 20-time Kenyan Pre-
mier League champions soaked
in their first defeat of the season
at the hands of Kenya Police, who
thrashed them 3-1 at the Police Sac-
co Stadium last weekend.
In an exclusive interview on
Wednesday, McKinstry tore into his
squad for failing to rise to the occa-
sion at a time when the competition
has started to gather momentum.
“We can’t afford to play like
that again if we are serious about
winning the league title. We had
opened a comfortable 10-point
league a fortnight ago but the defeat
has reduced it to seven. Any further
flop could prove detrimental to our
title charge,” McKinistry remarked.
He singled out glaring deficien-
cies in midfield, saying they would
put their nose to the grindstone and
refine their act before their next
league encounter.
“It’s all about making all the de-
partments tighter than they pres-
ently look. There’s some amount
JOHNATHAN MCKINSTRY
We are also
considering rotating
the squad given the
depth that we have.
Fatigue usually sets in
at some point in time,
Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla/FILE
of work to be done in polishing the
squad and I believe we only require
a few drills to perfect our act,” Mc-
Kinistry stated.
“We are also considering rotating
the squad given the depth that we
have. Fatigue usually sets in at some
point in time,” he added.
McKinstry asked his players to
cultivate confidence, which would
give them the necessary composure
to tackle their opponents effectively.
“Some players look so timid
and afraid of asking for the ball.
For instance, against the Police,
we did little to assert authority in
ball possession. Our midfield ap-
peared disjointed.”
However, their desire to bag a
21st league title is still on.
“Our resolve is still the same. We
are determined to clinch the title
again,” said McKinstry.
Meanwhile, Benson Omalla will
remain at the club for the rest of
the season after his much-touted
move to Algerian side, Jeunesse
Sportive de la Saoura, fell through
at the eleventh hour.
Reports indicate the Algerian
club signed a Cameroonian strik-
er after Gor took too long to strike
a middle ground with the club
over the striker.
Omalla, 22, had been offered
Sh1.3m per month while Gor were
meant to pocket a Sh3m fee.
The Kisumu Day alumnus is this
season’s Kenyan Premier League
top scorer with nine goals.
City Stars’ Omachi elated
with return after one year
ANGWENYI GICHANA/ Nairobi City Stars forward
Pius Omachi is excited to be back after one year out
with an injury.
Omachi was back on the pitch as a substitute in a Ken-
yan Premier League match against Shabana
in Machakos on Sunday.
He was introduced in the final
13 minutes of play in place of
Samuel Kapen for his second
top-flight game.
“The season has gone
well for Nairobi City Stars
though it has been hard for
me to get back to the squad
due to stiff competition. How-
ever, I am happy that things City Stars forward Pius
are now flowing and I am Omachi /FILE
back to the setup. I do believe
things will only get better from here,” he said.
Omachi’s only other game – his debut – was in
February last year against Gor Mahia at Moi Stadium,
Kasarani, after swapping places with Ezekiel Odera in
the 73rd minute. Misfortune then struck soon after and
he was rendered unavailable for the rest of the sea-
son due to injury.
Meanwhile, City Stars chief executive officer, Patrick
Korir has hailed Shabana’s fans for standing with their
team despite current struggles.
“Those are diehards, and you have to admire them.
Think about it, the team is in the relegation zone but that
matters little. The urge to push them out of the red zone
supersedes what they see in the standings,” said Korir.
FOOTBALL
Vihiga move likely to open
bigger doors, says Kathuru
MARTIN OMBIMA/ Former Gaspo goalkeeper Pauline
Kathuru beleives her move to Vihiga Queens will serve as a
stepping stone to greener pastures abroad.
Kathuru, who’s target has always been to play overseas,
said: “Sports is well paying out there and my prayer is to get
one of the best teams that will change my life for good.”
“Joining Vihiga Queens gives me hope that I will, one day,
play professional football.”
Kathuru signed for Vihiga Queens after leaving a strug-
gling Gaspo Ladies side, who are on the verge of collapse
due to lack of funds.
Vihiga have had some success stories abroad includ-
ing Teresiah Ingesia, Jentrix Shikangwa, Barther Omata,
Janet Bundi, former captain Enez Mango, Anitter Nama-
ta, Lilian Awour.​
Queens’ head coach Boniface Nyamunyamu is happy to
have on board.
“If she gets a new deal abroad, it will be a different
story but releasing her into the local market will be a tall
order,” he said.

RUGBY
Upper Hill to play Leos, Monks ahead of County Games
WILLIAM NJUGUNA/Upper Hill
School will play against Strath-
more University and Catholic
University second-string teams in
readiness for the Nairobi County
Games next month.
Head coach Eustace Sifuna,
whose side finished second in the
15s category last year — falling 18-0
to Ofafa Jericho in Nairobi — believes
they can turn the tables on their
rivals to qualify for the national
championships in Machakos in April.
“Our preparation started in Sep-
tember last year. We want to test
ourselves by playing teams in the
Eric Shirley Shield,” said Sifuna.
Amuga Okello of Upper Hill evades two Laiser Hill defenders in Matches against the Leos
a past match/ FILE and Monks will toughen the side
mentally and physically for what
will be a grueling championship with
only one slot up for grabs for the
Machakos contest.
“I believe the boys will emerge
stronger from the two match-
es. We want to use them to
make amends before the County
Games,” he added
They are laying emphasis is on
the forwards where skill will be key.
“Our forwards were not skilled
enough last season, especially in the
final when we lost to Ofafa. How-
ever, the game has changed and we
expect the forwards to not only do
their core roles but bring a bit of an
x-factor,” said Sifuna.
The 2018 and 2019 national
champions will also play Brooke-
side International School in a
friendly match later this month
as part of their preparations for
the County Games.
They have received support and
encouragement from Kibra Member
of Parliament and former princi-
pal Peter Orero.
Sifuna expects a tough battle
from the likes of holders Ofafa
Jericho, Dagoretti, and a resur-
gent Lenana and Nairobi School in
the county games.
“It’s going to be very close
all the teams are well matched
it boils down to who does the
basics well and is mentally pre-
pared,” added Sifuna.
 34 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Cote d’Ivoire coach revels understood the message.”

This spirited unity has fuelled

in Elephant’s resurrection
CAFONLINE/ Cote d’Ivoire coach
Emerse Faé described reaching
the Cup of Nations final as “like
a dream” after masterminding a
remarkable turnaround.
The Elephants looked down and
out after a 4-1 thrashing by Equa-
torial Guinea in the group stage.
But three straight knockout wins
have booked an improbable final
date with Nigeria.
For Faé, appointed mid-tour-
nament after Jean-Louis Gas-
set’s sacking, this swift resur-
rection is a fantasy. “I am very
happy, very moved, it’s like a
dream,” he beamed after beat-
ing DR Congo 1-0.
Just weeks ago, the humiliation
versus Equatorial Guinea left Cote
d’Ivoire’s campaign in tatters.
Yet Faé was able to restore belief
amidst the wreckage.
The Ivorian rallied his squad,
utilising the full 27-man group.
“I told the players: you are 27
players and I count on everyone,”
explained Faé after enacting his
inclusive approach.
“If we want to win this compe-
tition, we will win it with all 27...I’ve
been telling the players that
everyone is important, including
those in the stands, and they
their march to the final against
the odds. Faé has given the Ele-
phants fresh impetus when they
needed it most.
From potential catastrophe to
Sunday’s showdown with Nigeria,
Faé has masterminded one of
AFCON’s greatest turnarounds.
Now comes the chance to conjure
another miracle.
“We will take stock in the next
two days, we will analyse Nigeria,
even though we played them in Cote d’Ivoire
the group stage, we will see the coach Emerse
strategy to implement for the Faé / CAFONLINE
final,” Faé noted.
Dreams may become reality
if the Elephants maintain this
momentum. Faé’s rescue mission
could earn a fairytale ending by
winning the title on home soil.

Kessie dares to dream

How midfielder
is fueling Cup of
Nations ‘miracle’
CAFONLINE/ Cote d’Ivoire mid-
fielder Franck Kessie is daring to
dream after inspiring his nation to
the Cup of Nations final.
Kessie produced a Man of the
Match display to secure a 1-0
semi-final win over DR Con-
go. Now he believes Cote d’Ivo-
ire can achieve something spe-
cial on home soil.
Kessie has been integral to the
Elephants’ run, marshaling the
engine room with power and poise.
After narrowly scraping through
their group, Cote d’Ivoire have ig-
nited hopes of a ‘miracle’ triumph.
And AC Milan star Kessie is de-
termined to deliver for expectant
Ivorian fans. “When you have a
crowd like ours, the best in the
world, we must go all the way,” he
declared after beating DR Congo.
That win followed Kessie’s hon-
est locker room interventions dur-
ing the group stage. “The defeat
against Equatorial Guinea was a
wake-up call for us. We took the
opportunity to speak honestly
with each other and take respon-
sibility,” explained Kessie.
Cote d’Ivoire have been re-
juvenated since finding form Cote d’Ivoire players celebrate after reaching the Cup of Nations final/HANDOUT
when it matters most. Kessie be-
lieves the final at President Al- By fuelling Cote d’Ivoire’s mira- Bakambu had a goal harshly disal- much. We’re disappointed tonight.
assane Ouattara Stadium gives cle, the Panther has already etched lowed before Yoane Wissa wasted a We could have achieved a better
added motivation. his name into Ivorian folklore. Now glorious one-on-one. result,” Desabre conceded.
“This stadium bears the name of Kessie wants to cement legendary “We didn’t take advantage of our Attention now turns to securing
our President, and we must hon- FRANCK KESSIE status by winning on home soil. momentum,” rued Desabre. “We third place when DR Congo face
our it. We still have a long way to Meanwhile, DR Congo manager tried to have all the offensive weap- South Africa on Saturday.
go. We should have a glorious his- This stadium bears Sebastien Desabre was left ruing ons to equalise, by changing the “We are competitors, we need to
tory here, and it’s up to us to write
the next chapter,” he said.
the name of our missed opportunities in the defeat
to Cote d’Ivoire.
system, making substitutions, but
unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”
quickly regroup. We have a match
on Saturday to secure third place,”
Victory on Sunday would spark President, and we Sebastien Haller scored the win- Despite the heartbreak, Desabre stated Desabre defiantly.
ecstatic scenes nationwide. Nigeria must honour it. We ner to deny DR Congo to have a praised the performance and ef- Reaching the last four capped
stand in the way. Kessie’s leader- stab at a third title. fort of his Congolese warriors. He impressive progress for DR Con-
ship and authority could make the still have a long way “My first impression is disap- acknowledged they faced brilliant go in Desabre’s first tournament.
difference against Nigeria’s flair. If to go. We should pointment, considering the course opponents in the Elephants. The Frenchman has moulded a
the Elephants achieve Afcon glory,
Kessie’s midfield masterclass will
have a glorious of the match,” said the Frenchman.
Multiple chances spurned in the
“It must be recognised that there
was a great team from Cote d’Ivoire
youthful, dynamic team who
could yet leave Cote d’Ivoire with
have paved the way. history here first half proved pivotal. Cedric facing us. It didn’t come down to heads held high.
Friday, February 9, 2024
Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong (5) and Ademola Lookman (18) lead celebrations / CAFONLINE
Keeping the faith
Lifting Afcon trophy will be amazing, says Nigeria captain Troost-Ekong
BBC / Nigeria captain William
Troost-Ekong says lifting the Af-
rica Cup of Nations trophy would
be an “amazing” moment for him
and the country.
The Super Eagles beat South Af-
rica on penalties to reach Sunday’s
final in Abidjan, where they will
face tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Nigeria have reached their first final
since 2013, when the West Africans
won their third continental title.
“You dream about moments
like that,” said centre-back Troost-
Ekong. “I’ve seen it so many times.
And I’ve closed my eyes. To actual-
ly be there on Sunday and have the
chance to do that will be amazing.”
Nigeria were not among the
leading contenders for the trophy
before the finals, given their lack-
lustre showing in their opening two
qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup
and their position as the sixth-best
team in Africa according to Fifa’s
world rankings.
However, the Super Eagles have
WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG
“You dream about
moments like that.
“I’ve seen it so many
times. And I’ve
closed my eyes.
been the top-ranked side at the
tournament since the end of the last
16, where holders Senegal, Morocco
and record seven-time champions
Egypt all exited.
Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro says
he has always had faith in his side,
who were the top scorers in qualify-
ing for the finals with 22 goals.
“When I signed the contract, I said
I want to win the Afcon,” the Portu-
guese told BBC Sport Africa. “Either
way, I don’t know if everybody be-
lieved or not. I have believed since
the first moment. We haven’t won
nothing until now — we want to
win the Afcon.”
Nigeria had looked like they would
close out victory against South Afri-
ca inside 90 minutes on Wednesday,
with Troost-Ekong’s penalty putting
them ahead in the 67th minute.
Victor Osimhen thought he had
made it 2-0 with five minutes to go
- but in a major twist Bafana Bafana
were awarded a penalty for a foul in
the build-up to that goal following a
Video Assistant Referee review, al-
lowing Teboho Mokoena to equalise.
“It’s good VAR because it was a
penalty against us,” Peseiro conced-
ed. “But for us, for our minds, it was
not good because we were winning
2-0 and then we were drawing 1-1.”
Khuliso Mudau almost won it for
South Africa in second-half added
time before a nervy 30 minutes of
extra time and Nigeria’s eventual 4-2
triumph on penalties.
“This was a hard one. I think we
showed real character,” defender
Calvin Bassey told BBC Sport Africa.
THE-STAR.CO.KE
“It just shows we could do the dirty
Nigeria’s Ola Aina work. We just had to keep believing
shoots at goal in ourselves. [South Africa were] a
/HANDOUT well-organised team, a quality team.
To outdo them on penalties, it’s crazy.
“Kudos to all the boys that stood
up and took [a penalty]. It’s not easy
to go out there with the pressure and
they kept calm.”
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was
the hero in the shootout for the Su-
per Eagles, denying Mokoena and
Evidence Makgopa before Kelechi
Iheanacho netted to clinch victory.
“Seeing myself winning the man
of the match (award) and also going
to the final is a dream come true to
me,” Nwabali, who plays his club
football in South Africa, said. “Cred-
it to my coaches, because when it’s
penalty time, they guide me a lot.”
After defeat on penalties, South
Africa were left to reflect on a
missed opportunity to add to
their sole continental triumph on
home soil in 1996.
Bafana Bafana were runners-up
two years later and finished third
in 2000, but Wednesday’s meeting
with Nigeria was their first appear-
ance in the semi-finals in 24 years.
“We’ve fought from the start of
the tournament,” defender Aubrey
Modiba told BBC Sport Africa. “We
managed to equalise and take it to
extra time, even though towards the
end we could have taken our chanc-
es that we created.
“Even though we’re a bit disap-
pointed, penalties are a lottery. It
wasn’t meant to be and you cannot
have any regrets.”
35
COTE D’IVOIRE 23
Fortifying KPL key
for Harambee Stars’
success, says Ababu
BBC/ Ababu Namwamba says
a strong domestic league is the
foundation of a strong Harambee
Stars team as the country prepares
to host the 2027 Cup of Nations
alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
By being a co-host, Kenya will get
a bye in the qualifying rounds and
Namwamba, the Cabinet Secretary
for Sports, expects Harambee Stars
to compete, not participate.
Kenya have been to six Cup of
Nations; 1972, 1988, 1990, 1992,
2004 and 2019 but have never gone
past the group stages. They could
not play in the qualifiers of this
year’s competition since the country
was serving a Fifa ban.
To ensure the country leaves a
mark, Namwamba emphasised the
importance of a strong domes-
tic league, citing South Africa,
whose majority of players are from
their local league.
“What I admire about Bafana
Bafana is that this is a team made
up of entirely home-based tal-
ent,” the CS noted
“This is a wake-up call to Kenya
and other African nations that
having a strong domestic league
is the foundation of a strong
national team.”
The Rainbow nation’s squad
for their semifinal clash against
Nigeria had 10 players from the
South African Premier League with
a majority of them coming from
Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Kenyan Premier League
(KPL) is 20th in Africa as per
a report by TeamForm with
the Moroccan Botola Pro 1
League the strongest.
Regionally, the Tanzanian league
is 25th while the Ugandan Premier
League is 27th. Congo DR-Su-
per Ligue is the strongest in East
Africa at 13th.
Namwamba also wants Kenyan
clubs to source talent from the
youth system as opposed to engag-
ing foreign players and coaches.
“Why are we going to fish for
Sports Cabinet third-rate players from elsewhere
Secretary Ababu instead of developing our tal-
Namwamba ent? We have competent play-
/HANDOUT ers and coaches here in Kenya,”
Namwamba quipped.
 36 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday, February 9, 2024

SPORTS LOCAL
FOOTBALL column
Were among five players unveiled by Mathare United BY KABIR DHANJI

ANGWENYI GICHANA/ Former

international Paul Were is among
new signings unveiled by National
Super League side Mathare United as
they seek promotion to the Kenyan
Premier League.
On Thursday, Were, goalkeeper
Gideon Ogweno, Starlon Odhiambo
and Hillary Kiprotich were unveiled as
the club concluded their mid-season
bid to return to the Premier League.
The speedy winger was last attached
United youth team.
Two weeks ago, the club unveiled
Paul Were with
Mathare United Action returns at
to Rayon Sport of Rwanda,” the club
said in a statement.
Ogweno, a goalkeeper, was on the
Donald Ange from Kariobangi Sharks,
Kevin Masongo (Gusii), Daniel
Odhiambo (Kibera Black Stars),
CEO Jeckton
Obure Ngong Racecourse
with the Kenya
/HANDOUT
bench in Mathare United’s win over Mohammed Kilume, Ali Athiman,
Mombasa Elite last weekend. Stephen Okola and striker Boaz Maeri.
He joins from Migori Youth and was
between the sticks when Mathare Guineas
United played them on Matchday One

transfer business.
This means Mathare signed 11 new
players in the mid-season transfer
window which closed on Thursday.
Were is a Kenyan international
who has played for Tusker and AFC
Leopards locally as well as a host
of Africa and European teams. The
forward was part of Kenya’s squad at
the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
“Were’s experience will be key in our
ATHLETICS
H
in September. He kept a clean sheet in orse racing returns with the Kenya Guineas— the
the barren draw. first of the big classics— this weekend at the
Odhiambo joins from NSL rivals Ngong Racecourse.
Kibera Black Stars. The leftback is The entries for Kings Pattern Handicap and Kenya
the son of former Mathare United Guineas are among the biggest fields seen in years,
defender Noah Abich. promising an exciting meeting to match the festi-
He also featured for his former team val around racing.
against Mathare earlier in the season The ‘Classics’, are races which traditionally and his-
when they drew 2-2. torically pit the best horses in Kenya against each other,
Kiprotich, a young midfielder and the Kenya Guineas is the first in a series of these
will head to the Mathare feature spectacles. The packed fields for this presti-
gious day of racing are a testament to the healthy state
of racing in Kenya, with any number of nags having a
respectable chance of earning honours.

Formidable squad
Loibach, Kiprop lead Team Kenya to Africa Cross Country Championships
TEDDY MULEI
@TheStarKenya
Former world youth silver medal-
list Sandrafelis Chebet and Grace
Loibach are among the star ath-
letes named in Team Kenya for
the Africa Cross Country Cham-
pionship slated for February 25 in
Hammamet, Tunisia.
Chebet and Loibach, a fourth-
place finisher at the 2023 World
Cross country Championships in
Australia, spearhead a team of
30 unveiled by Athletics Kenya
(AK) yesterday.
Chebet won the women’s 15km
Road race at the 96th edition of
the Corrida Internacional de São
Silvestre in Sao Palo, Brazil clock-
ing 50:06 in 2022.
Loibach, finished ninth in the
10,000m race at the World cham-
pionships in Budapest, Hungary,
in a time of 31:38.17.
In June 2023, she ran the eighth
fastest 10,000m time of 29:47.08
on her debut over the distance
to finish runner-up to Nether-
lands’ Sifan Hassan ( 29:37.80
) in Hengelo.
Joining the duo will be the
data
Equally, the battle between the jockeys is a closely
fought affair, with Henry Muya surging into the lead
ahead of last season’s champion, Lesley Sercombe.
Charles Kimani and veteran champion James
Muhindi are chasing the two leaders in joint third, and
the bullish young sensation, Michael Fundi, is sitting in
fifth, hunting the seasoned veterans.
The fine weather that has recaptured the ‘City in
the Sun’ means track conditions are likely to be good
to firm, which means that the big race of the day, The
Kenya Guineas, which happens at 3:55 PM, will be run
at pace. The time-honoured rituals of racing regard this
middle-distance sprint as the trial for the Kenya Derby,
the biggest race in the calendar, so there is a great deal
at stake to understand where horses are and where
they need to be.
It’s hard to pick a favourite for the 1600m Kenya
Guineas, but Beeston, ridden by C Kimani, is the form
horse, having both the staying power and a sprint in
him, which are essential. Bedford, ridden by M Fundi,
on paper, is the main competition, and Dunleavy,
ridden by Lesley Sercombe cannot be discounted. James
Muhindi, the most consistent jockey to place or win,
riding Carlisle, will be in the running.
The full and exciting six-card meeting is largely
made up of middle-distance running and sprints,
none with any clear favourites, which will make for
exciting viewing and betting for punters and patrons
alike. The fixture gets underway at 1:30 PM with the
Vayu Handicap, a 1200m sprint pitting Star in Wonder
against Venetian Link.
The 1800m Risky Business Handicap at 2:05 PM
stands Welcome Breeze from South Africa against
Daisy, though the South African imports, by and large,
do not seem to favour the harder ground for running
their best gallops.
The 1600m African Storm Maiden at 2:40 pm has Ten
Eighty as the easy favourite. The 3:15 PM Kings Pattern
Handicap over 1600m is the second most prominent
race of the day, packed with 10 runners, the most of any
race in recent history.
Sandrafelis 2010 Youth Olympics gold med- bet, Judy Kemunto, Lucy Nduta The three leading jockeys, Muya, Sercombe, and
Chebet (L) allist Virginia Nyambura, Cintia and Sharon Chepkemoi form the Kimani, are all riding potential favourites, Sea Ea-
and Grace Chepng’eno, Gladys Kwamboka rest of the team. gle, Bampton, and Wimborne respectively, in what
Lobach during and Caren Chebet in the senior The men’s U20 team is made should be the most strategically fought race of the
the Sirikwa women’s category. up of Titus Kiprotich, Gideon day. For the punters and dreamers, Maria is a realis-
Classic Tour in The men’s senior team will be Kipngetich, Clinton Kimutai, tic outside chance, and the skills of Fundi on Cindy
Eldoret over the led by the 2019 African Games Simon Maywa, Joseph Njoroge are worth a wager.

30
weekend gold medallist Robert Kiprop.
/ CHARLENE He will have the company of
MALWA African U20 5,000m bronze med-
allist Vincent Kimaiyo, Brian Kip-
too, Vincent Langat, Fredrick Do-
mongole and Naibei Kiplimo.
Athletes in Team Kenya World U20 3,000m bronze
medallist Nancy Cherop will
for Africa Cross lead the women’s junior team.
Sandrafelis Chebet and Grace Loibach Cherop won 800m, 1,500m and
the star athletes in Team Kenya for the 3,000m races in Ndola, Zambia
Africa Cross Country Championship during the Africa U18 Champi-
slated for February 25 in Hammamet, onships in 2023.
Tunisia. Diana Chepkemoi, Sheila Je-
and Joash Ruto.
World cross country champion
and U20 1,500m silver medallist
Mirriam Cherop and Youth Olym-
pics 1500m silver medallist Win-
fred Nzisa will lead the relay team.
Joining the duo will be Evaline
Chepkoech, Edwin Kiprono, Vic-
tor Kipkirui and Newton Kipkurui.
The team which will be led by
AK Vice President Paul Mutwii,
is set to go into residential train-
ing on February 11 at Watakatifu
Wote in Ngong.
The Duke of Manchester Cup is a 1,200m sprint at
4:30 pm, and largely an affair of South African imports.
Daytime Girl ridden by Sercombe is the darling and
banker, with the local Ripon, ridden Fundi, as the main
contenders looking to upset the apple cart. Coffee Break
is a reliable bet to place, as is Grand Surabi.
The end of the racing is the beginning of the sun-
downers and afterparty hosted in conjunction with
Capital FM with mellifluous tunes and delectable
delights from Geco Tribe, Maurizio’s, Fabio’s Pizza, 254
Breweries, Shawarma Mamma, Lekker, Nairobi Street
Kitchen, and Need Gelato, as well as an assortment of
other food and drink vendors making it an unmissable
event, with music.
Friday, February 9, 2024
SPORTS INTERNATIONAL
football gossip
BY DAVID BILLINGTON
Italian midfielder has featured in just 22 matches since joining the Gunners in January 2023
ARTETA WANTS JORGINHO TO STAY PUT
A
rsenal midfielder Jorginho has
a contract until May but Mikel
Arteta is hoping to persuade
him to stay at the Emirates. Jor-
ginho started for only the fifth time
this season but Arteta was quick to
praise his performance in the 3-1
victory over Liverpool on Sunday.
He signed an 18-month contract
after moving from Chelsea in Jan-
uary last year but has only been
able to feature in 22 matches due to
a foot injury.
There is no doubting that Jorgin-
ho has the ablility to thrive in Ar-
senal’s midfield alongside Declan
Rice and Martin Odegaard. Arteta
is also aware that he can influence
and help younger players given his
two European trophies and a Euro-
pean Championship medal which
he won with Italy in 2021.
Arteta now has to decide how he
will line up against West Ham this
weekend because Jorginho stepped
in for Kai Havertz, who moved for-
ward in place of Gabriel Jesus, who
could return this week. ­If Jesus is fit
to lead the line, Arteta will decide
after Friday’s training on whether
he plays Havertz or Jorginho.
Thomas Partey suffered another
setback in his recovery from a thigh
injury and this could give Jorginho
more opportunities as the Ghana
international often moved up from
right back into the midfield. Partey
has been out since September and
the club are considering selling him
at the end of the season.
SON FLIES BACK HOPING TO PLAY
In a surprise defeat against Jordan,
South Korea’s semi-final exit at
the Asian Cup means captain Heu-
ng-Min Son should be available to
play for Tottenham against Bright-
on on Saturday.
Son returned to the UK on
Wednesday and went to the Lon-
don Stadium to meet manager
Ange Postecoglou. He is fully fit and
only jet lag will prevent him from
leading out his Tottenham team.
THE PROBLEMS AT CHELSEA
Mauricio Pochettino didn’t exactly
jump out of bed with joy on Mon-
day morning as he prepared to hold
yet another inquest at the Cobham
THE-STAR.CO.KE
david@billingtondesign.com
training ground following a 4-2
home defeat to Wolves. He could
still hear the Blues’ fans chant of
“We want Mourinho back” ring-
ing in his ears.
The owners’ representatives
have said they would stick by
Pochettino for now but things have
to improve and there would be a
review at the end of the season.
An FA Cup mid-week win against
Aston Villa has slightly eased the
pressure on Pochettino but this is
not a true picture of where Chelsea
are this season.
Cup games do not reflect how
Jorginho with the week-in, week-out Premier
Bukayo Saka League games are being played.
/FILE The Cup is a one-off knock-out
game and Villa are more concerned
with their league position and the
possibility of qualifying for Eu-
rope next season.
Just to get things straight here
are the hard Chelsea facts: 1. Play-
ers are struggling to understand
exactly what Pochettino’s tactics
are. His defence is changed every
week, players are left out
without explanation and
the coach does not seem to
know what his best team
is. The team fails to press
high, chase balls, move
into positions that give op-
portunities and there is little
motivation in league games.
2. Recruitment has been appall-
ing with the new owners throw-
ing money around like confetti in
a sport they clearly do not under-
stand. They bought some talented
players who are individuals but
who rarely work together play-
ing under Pochettino’s guidance.
This has left the coach with a poor
Premier League squad in terms
of success. A typical example is
Nicolas Jackson who rarely fails
to disappoint having missed con-
siderable goalscoring chances this
season. He did at least score one in
the FA Cup win.
3. Conor Gallagher is captain one
week, left out of the team the next
THOMAS and was top of Chelsea’s list to be
PARTEY sold. He is still there, in and out of
the team, not quite knowing how
SUFFERED he fits into Pochettino’s so called
ANOTHER strategy. 4. Thiago Silva and Cole
Palmer are the only guaranteed
SETBACK IN Premier League game starters.
5. Chelsea owners fear sacking
HIS RECOVERY Pochettino and his large back-
FROM A THIGH room staff — who would cost over
£10million — which means the
INJURY club, currently fighting off possible
AND THIS charges of breaking the financial
fair play rules which limits losses
COULD GIVE to £105million over three years,
would need to sell expensive play-
JORGINHO ers to keep themselves compliant.
MORE Their disappointment of not sell-
ing home grown Amando Broja on
CHANCES. a permanent deal becomes ever
more relevant. Chelsea have al-
ready spent £10million paying off
Thomas Tuchel and the previous
coach, Graham Potter, is due an-
other £13million.
Make no mistake…Chelsea are in
a mess. Pochettino and Boehly have
put their faith in buying young-
sters. The only starter over 30 years
of age was Thiago Silva.
In previous years, Chelsea had
the backbone of John Terry, Frank
Lampard, Didier Drogba and Petr
Cech to guide the youngsters and
deliver silverware. That experience
is needed on the pitch now but
isn’t available.
It isn’t that the players dislike
Pochettino. They are disheartened
and training at Cobham underlines
that perfectly. When training ends,
the players leave immediately,
no one stays to do extra work and
their luxury cars can be seen leav-
ing hurriedly, almost in convoy.
Can Chelsea kick on and use
their FA Cup win to inspire them
to perform in the Premier League?
Monday’s game at struggling Crys-
tal Palace is one they should win
and could provide the answer but
on February 17 they travel to Man-
chester City and that game will re-
veal whether Chelsea can unlock
their true potential.
KLOPP’S MISTAKE WITH MAC
ALLISTER
After several conversations
at Arsenal last weekend,
many agreed with me that
Liverpool coach Jurgen
Klopp made an error which
he has repeated several times
recently. I have witnessed time
and again that when Klopp plays
Mac Allister in the centre midfield
role he struggles and regularly
loses the ball.
Against Arsenal, he was caught
in possession too many times and
he gave the ball away far too of-
ten. There is no doubting that he is
a good player but at No6 he is put
under pressure which he cannot
handle. Arsenal’s Jorginho on the
other hand, also playing at No6, did
not give the ball away once and he
tackled with authority and made
accurate passes.
It was a crucial part of the game
and in many ways dictated who
won and who lost. Mac Allister lost
possession too many times in the
first half and often in deep posi-
tions which put his back four under
pressure. He is a much better play-
er further upfield.
MARTINEZ WILL MISS
MANCHESTER DERBY
The latest word from Manchester
United is that Lisandro Martinez’s
injury is confined to a collateral lig-
ament in his right knee. The origi-
nal diagnosis was an anterior cru-
ciate ligament which would have
37
meant being side-lined for the rest
of the season.
Fortunately, the 26-year-old
does not require surgery and it
will be up to the medical staff to
nurse him back to full fitness. He
will probably miss eight league
matches including the Manchester
derby on March 3.
Erik Ten Hag has Harry Magu-
ire, Jonny Evans, Raphael Ver-
ane and Victor Lindelof to replace
Martinez in this weekend’s match
against Aston Villa.
GUARDIOLA ANSWERS
HAALAND RUMOURS
Pep Guardiola has taken the un-
usual step of dismissing reports
claiming striker Erling Haaland is
unhappy at Manchester City. He
says Haaland has no plans to leave.
Real Madrid have been mak-
ing noise about signing him with
the Spanish press going into
overdrive claiming striker is on
his way to Spain.
“Not true” according to Guardio-
la. Real wanted to sign the Norwe-
gian from Dortmund in 2022 but
City won that race.
Haaland then scored 52 goals in
one campaign and the Blues won
the treble…not a bad addition to the
Haaland trophy cabinet.
HODGSON CLINGS ONTO PALACE
Another coach clinging on to his
job by his fingertips is Crystal Pal-
ace veteran Roy Hodgson.
Thumped by Brighton 4-1, Palace
defender Joachim Anderson had
to be pulled away from the visit-
ing fans who had chanted abuse
throughout the game at coach, the
players and the management.
Ironically, the last coach who led
Palace to defeat at Brighton was
Patrick Viera and he was sacked
two days later.
Four wins in 17 games have left
Palace only five points above the
relegation zone. To make mat-
ters worse for Palace, their star
winger, Michael Olise, is facing
two months out with a hamstring
injury sustained in the 4-1 de-
feat at Brighton.
He had limped off during
the match against Sheffield
United complaining of pain
but was thought to be fit
enough to sit on the bench at
Brighton but Hodgson decided
to risk him and has been heavily
criticised for the decision given that
Olise had to come off again after
pulling up in pain.
Sunday’s game between Palace
and Chelsea is a must-win for both
managers. Defeat could be the end
for Hodgson. Sacked Nottingham
Forest boss Steve Cooper has been
spoken to by Palace but he does not
want to take over a club midway
through the season.
 38
SPORTS FEATURE
Who owns EPL clubs?
BBC/ The Ineos investment in Man-
chester United. Manchester City’s
sister club Girona riding high in
Spain’s La Liga. Rumoured Saudi
Pro League club interest in Newcas-
tle players. The issue of multi-club
ownership models is back in focus.
Rules around multi-club own-
ership could soon be tightened
up, with Uefa president Aleksand-
er Ceferin recently saying it is his
“biggest problem where I don’t
have a solution”.
City and Girona occupy Cham-
pions League qualification places,
with City’s owner, the Abu Dha-
bi-backed City Football Group, also
owning a 47 per cent stake in Gi-
rona. Uefa rules stop anyone hav-
ing “control or influence” over two
clubs in the same Uefa competi-
tion, and in March Ceferin said they
needed a “rethink”.
He told the Telegraph last month
that the challenge is one of “per-
ception” around integrity if clubs
under the same control meet in the
same competition.
“[You would] say, ‘Look, your
competition is fixed’, and then you
start losing everything.”
In 2017 Uefa ruled that RB Leip-
zig and Red Bull Salzburg — both
of whom are associated with ener-
gy-drink maker Red Bull — were
allowed to play in the Champions
League. Uefa ruled “no individual
or legal entity had a decisive in-
fluence over more than one club”
and it did not affect the integrity of
the competition.
WHAT MEASURES ARE IN PLACE?
At the start of this season Bright-
on and Aston Villa had to make
“significant changes” to comply
with Uefa rules.
Brighton owner Tony Bloom is
involved with Belgian side Royale
Union Saint-Gilloise, with both fea-
Rules around multi-club ownership could soon be tightened
turing in the Europa League. Villa’s
owners have a stake in Portugal’s
Vitoria Guimaraes, and both ap-
peared in the Europa Conference
League. Uefa said the changes im-
plemented “substantially restrict
the investors’ influence and deci-
sion-making power over more than
one club, ensuring compliance with
the multi-club ownership rule”.
In addition, the clubs involved
agreed they would not transfer
players to each other “permanently
or on loan, directly or indirectly, un-
til September 2024” or “use any joint
scouting or player database”.
In November Premier League
clubs narrowly voted against a
temporary ban on ‘related-par-
ty loans’ between clubs under the
same ownership.
ARSENAL
American Stan Kroenke acquired
a 9.9 per cent stake in Arsenal in
2007, became majority sharehold-
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke / FILE
THE-STAR.CO.KE
er in 2011 and assumed 100 per
cent ownership in 2018. He owns
Kroenke Sports and Entertain-
ment, the holding company of Ar-
senal and Major League Soccer side
Colorado Rapids.
ASTON VILLA
Owners Nassef Sawaris and Wes
Edens, who refer to themselves as
V Sports, purchased a controlling
stake in Villa in 2018.
In March last year, V Sports
bought a 46 per cent stake in Vitoria
Guimaraes. In July, after both clubs
qualified for the Europa Conference
League, it reduced its stake to 29 per
cent to comply with Uefa rules.
BRENTFORD
Owner Matthew Benham first took
full control of Brentford in June
2012 after initially investing in his
boyhood club in 2005. Benham also
held majority shares in Danish side
FC Midtjylland but sold in August.
LEFT: Everton
goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford
and James
Tarkowski
/ FILE
RIGHT:
Manchester
United players
/FILE
BRIGHTON
In 2009 Tony Bloom, who is a
Brighton fan, secured a 75 per cent
shareholding in the club and, in
2018, completed the takeover of
Saint-Gilloise.
In July, after both clubs qualified
for the Europa League to comply
with Uefa rules, Bloom became a
minority shareholder of Union and
president Alex Muzio increased his
investment to become a majori-
ty shareholder.
BOURNEMOUTH
In 2022, Bournemouth owner Max-
im Demin sold his 100 per cent
stake to American businessman Bill
Foley’s Black Knight Football Club.
Foley is chairman of Cannae
Holdings Inc, which has a 50.1 per
cent interest in the club. The mi-
nority ownership group is led by
Hollywood actor Michael B Jor-
dan, his first foray into professional
sports ownership.
Foley bought a minority stake
in French Ligue 1 club Lorient in
January 2023, and in November,
he was awarded the licence for
an expansion team in Australia’s
A-League, to be based in Auck-
land, New Zealand.
Last month, the Scottish Football
Association cleared Foley to buy
into Premiership club Hibernian,
subject to his minority sharehold-
ing not exceeding 29.99 per cent
and it not precluding Hibs from
playing in Europe.
BURNLEY
American investment group
ALK Capital completed its take-
over of Burnley by buying an 83
per cent stake in 2020, and last
month, it agreed to a “strategic re-
lationship” with Scottish Premier-
Friday, February 9, 2024
ship side Dundee.
In May last year former NFL star JJ
Watt and his wife Kealia, an ex-USA
forward, announced their invest-
ment in Burnley. In August, Burnley
announced US sport and YouTube
entertainment group, Dude Perfect,
had also invested.
CHELSEA
American investor Todd Boehly and
private equity firm Clearlake Capi-
tal completed a £4.25bn takeover of
Chelsea in 2022.
Boehly is also a part-owner of sev-
en-time baseball World Series cham-
pions the LA Dodgers, US women’s
basketball team the Los Angeles
Sparks and NBA franchise the Los
Angeles Lakers.
In June Chelsea’s owners agreed
a deal to buy a majority stake in
French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. There
is concern in some quarters about
whether there is Saudi involvement
at Stamford Bridge.
There is uncertainty over wheth-
er Saudi Arabia’s Public Invest-
ment Fund (PIF), holds a stake in
Clearlake Capital, but club sources
have rejected suggestions of any di-
rect involvement.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace are one of five clubs
owned by John Textor’s Eagle Foot-
ball Holdings. It purchased a 40 per
cent stake in 2021 and also owns
Brazil’s Botafogo, Belgian top-flight
club RWD Molenbeek and US
academy outfit FC Florida. Textor
completed the takeover of French
side Lyon in 2022.
EVERTON
Farhad Moshiri became major share-
holder in 2016 by purchasing 49.9
per cent of Everton. Since then he has
increased his stake to 94.1 per cent.
However, in September Ever-
ton were close to being sold to Mi-
ami-based investment firm 777 Part-
ners. That potential takeover is yet to
be ratified by the Premier League.
They have invested in various foot-
ball clubs around the world, includ-
Friday, February 9, 2024
ing Vasco da Gama in Brazil, Standard
Liege in Belgium and Hertha Berlin of
Germany. The firm also holds a share
in La Liga side Sevilla, who won the
Europa League last season.
FULHAM
Shahid Khan purchased Fulham in
2013. He also owns NFL side the Jack-
sonville Jaguars and co-owns wres-
tling company All Elite Wrestling
(AEW) with his son, Tony, who is the
president and chief executive of AEW.
LIVERPOOL
Fenway Sports Group bought Liver-
pool in a £300m deal in 2010. In 2021
RedBird Capital Partners, a private
investment firm, bought a stake in
FSG for about $735m (£533m). Red-
Bird owns Serie A side AC Milan and
French Ligue 1 club Toulouse.
LUTON TOWN
Luton are owned by the group Luton
Town Football Club 2020, chaired
by David Wilkinson. Director Paul
Ballantyne has a significant interest
in the company.
MANCHESTER CITY
The City Football Group (CFG) —
founded by Mansour bin Zayed Al
Manchester City’s players celebrate with the Premier League trophy / FILE
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Burnley players Nahyan and Khaldoon Al Mubarak
during a training — is owned by three organisations. A
session majority 81 per cent is owned by Abu
/ HANDOUT Dhabi United Group, while Amer-
ican firm Silver Lake owns 18 per
cent and Chinese firms China Media
Capital and CITIC Capital have a one
per cent stake.
CFG has 12 clubs on its books, in-
cluding Girona, Mumbai City, Mel-
bourne City, New York City, Palermo
and sides in South America and Asia.
MANCHESTER UNITED
In December Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed
to buy a 25 per cent stake in Man-
chester United for about $1.3bn
(£1bn). This means Ratcliffe’s Ine-
os Group will take control of foot-
ball operations.
Ineos owns French club Nice, who
are second in Ligue 1 and well placed
to qualify for next season’s Cham-
pions League and Swiss top-flight
club Lausanne.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Newcastle are owned by Saudi Ara-
bia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF),
which provided 80 per cent of the
funds for the takeover in 2021. PIF
has assets reported to be between
of £250bn and £700bn, which — in
theory — makes Newcastle one of the
richest clubs in the world.
In June PIF took over four of the
leading Saudi Arabian clubs - Al-Nas-
sr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad. In
November a Premier League vote to
temporarily ban related-party loans
did not receive the required support.
It means Newcastle will be able to
sign players on loan from sides con-
trolled by their Saudi owners.
During the January transfer win-
dow, Newcastle midfielder Miguel
Almiron was linked with a move
to Saudi side Al-Shabab, which is
not owned by PIF.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Greek shipping magnate Evangelos
Marinakis purchased 100 per cent
of Nottingham Forest’s shares from
Fawaz Al-Hasawi in 2017. The own-
ers formed a new company NF Foot-
ball Investments Ltd, registered in
the UK. Marinakis has also been the
owner of Greek top-flight side Olym-
piakos since 2010 and Portuguese
side Rio Ave since November.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
In 2013 Prince Abdullah purchased
50 per cent of Sheffield United. De-
spite returning to the Premier League
for the 2023-23 season, Prince Ab-
dullah made clear his intention to
sell the club.
In February last year it was re-
ported that Nigerian billionaire
Dozy Mmobuosi’s takeover was
at an “advanced stage”, but no
deal was secured.
Prince Abdullah is the founder of
United World Group, which holds 75
per cent of shares in Belgium club
Beerschot and full ownership of
Saudi Arabian second-division team
Al-Hilal United, French side Chateau-
roux and Indian outfit Kerala United
TOTTENHAM
British investment company ENIC
International holds 87 per cent of
shares in Tottenham. The family
trust of Joe Lewis owns 70 per cent
of ENIC, with the remainder owned
by the family trust of Spurs chair-
man Daniel Levy.
ENI invested in Rangers, Slavia
Prague, AEK Athens, Vincenza Calcio
and Basel in the late 1990s but sold
those shares to take a bigger stake in
Tottenham in 2007.
West HamThe majority of shares
of West Ham are split between David
Sullivan ( 38 per cent), Sparta Prague
owner Daniel Kretinsky ( 27 per cent)
and Vanessa Gold ( 25 per cent).
Gold’s shares belonged to her fa-
ther David until his death in Janu-
ary last year. Those shares were then
passed to Vanessa’s sister Jacque-
line, but she died in March, leaving
them to Vanessa.
Kretinsky took a 27 per cent stake
in West Ham in 2021. The Czech busi-
nessman was influential in bringing
in Czech Republic-based players
Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek and
Alex Kral to the club.
WOLVES
Wolves are owned by Fosun Group,
a Chinese investment firm head-
ed up by Guo Guangchang. The
wife of Guangchang, Jenny Wang,
owned the majority of shares in
Swiss club, Grasshoppers, but sold
them last month to MLS franchise
Los Angeles FC.
39
PREMIER LEAGUE
Pochettino’s best
night of Chelsea’s
traumatic season’
BBC/ Chelsea’s fans mirrored the mood of dysfunction
and crisis hanging over the club by opening this dramatic
FA Cup night at Villa Park with a loud lament for lost owner
Roman Abramovich.
It did not last long, cut off in full cry as Conor Gallagh-
er’s crisp finish at The Holte End instantly brought songs
of a different kind, setting the tone for Chelsea’s finest
moment of this mess of a season under manager Mau-
ricio Pochettino.
Chelsea’s form has been so dismal that any talk of
victory in this fourth-round replay at Aston Villa was
placed into the bracket of an FA Cup shock — not exactly
Maidstone United winning at Ipswich Town level, but a
shock nonetheless.
How wrong we all were. The sound of a script being
torn up could be heard at Villa Park inside 20 minutes, so
unexpected was this Chelsea performance and outcome.
Chelsea’s desperate plight when they arrived here made
this outstanding 3-1 win, fully deserved after a superb
team display, so much sweeter in a stadium where Villa
have won 13 games and lost only two in all competi-
tions this season.
The stock of co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Egh-
bali, and to a much lesser extent Pochettino, had sunk so
low that Stamford Bridge echoed to praise for Abramov-
ich and former manager Jose Mourinho when Chelsea
scraped the barrel losing 4-2 at home to Wolverhampton
Wanderers on Sunday. Yes, it was that desperate.
There was even an unwanted — unwanted by Chelsea
and Pochettino at least - social media intervention by Isa-
belle Silva, wife of defender Thiago Silva, when she posted
on “X” after the Wolves debacle: “It’s time to change. If
you wait any longer it will be too late.”
Isabelle apologised before kick-off while Pochettino
insisted the reason Silva was sitting behind him on a
bench at kick-off time was because of “performance
and balance”, not as a punishment for his wife’s — her
words — “outburst”.
Raheem Sterling joined Silva with a watching brief, pay-
ing the price for a season that has gone into sharp decline
after a bright start, especially in two poor performances in
the heavy defeats at Liverpool and at home to Wolves.
Chelsea, despite cup competitions being their salvation
so far this season after reaching the EFL Cup final against
Liverpool, were firm underdogs against a Villa side on the
crest of a wave in the Premier League’s top four and so
formidable on their own ground.
The time was crucial, too, with Pochettino under more
scrutiny than at any time since his summer appoint-
ment, Villa supporters revelling in his misfortune with a
group chanting the trademark: “You’re Getting Sacked
In The Morning.”
Not after this he isn’t. Pochettino’s job was not under
immediate threat but the tension around the club and,
most significantly, results and shambolic performances
meant he could not afford an FA Cup exit otherwise the
storm clouds will have gathered more heavily.
The Argentine insisted he had received messages of
support from Chelsea’s owners, but history tells us this is
the most volatile of clubs and plenty is already riding on
that Wembley meeting with Liverpool on February 25.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez takes a free kick against Aston
Villa / HANDOUT
3rd Floor, Lion Place,
Waiyaki Way (A104)
Nairobi, Kenya
+254 20 4244000
More Sport
on our
website.Scan
this quick
FOOTBALL
response code
using your KESSIE FUELS COTE D’IVOIRE’S
smartphone
‘MIRACLE’ AS NIGERIA LURK
PAGE 34-35
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024
GOLF WALTER IS TOP-PLACED KENYAN GOLFER AT POSITION T39
Givens, Gorlei and Walsh in joint lead
as Kenya Ladies Open gets underway
Kenyans
struggle
SAMSON ATEKA
@samson ateka
England’s Eleanor Givens, South
African Cara Gorlei and Lauren
Walsh of Ireland are jointly in the
lead after Day One of the Magical
Kenya Ladies Open at the Par 73
Vipingo Ridge course.
The trio shot four-under-
par 69 to take the lead in the
season-opening Ladies European
Tour (LET) event.
Resident golfer Jaquellin Walter
was the top-placed Kenyan golfer
at position T39 after she birdied
holes 8 and 16 to close her day on
two over par 75.
Walter’s campaign was
nevertheless affected by a double
bogey she picked on hole six.
The rest of Kenyans struggled
through the opening day of the
Ladies European Tour.
Naomi Wafula, who is the most
experienced among the five-
member Kenyan outfit, started
her campaign on a seven-over
Naomi Wafula par 80 which wasn’t quite good
in yesterday’s going into Friday’s round. She is
action at Vipingo lying jointly 100th and she is the
/HANDOUT second-best-placed Kenyan.
Amateur Kellie Wahito
Gachaga could only manage
to shoot 8 over par 81 while
compatriot and youngest of the
five Chanelle Wangari ( 17 ) shot a
disappointing 9 over 82.
It was a bad day in the office for
Mercy Nyanchama, who posted 20
ALEXANDRA FÖRSTERLING
I feel like I enjoyed it
so much and that’s
why I want to have
it again because it’s
such a nice feeling to
win on Tour
over par93 which makes it almost
impossible for her to make the cut
going into the weekend.
It’s also a tall order for the
rest of the Kenyans as they’ll be
compelled to play very low scores
to make the cut in Friday’s round.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old
German Alexandra Försterling is
taking a relaxed approach to the
2024 season after Day One of the
Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
She said: “I have never really
thought about putting pressure
on myself,” said the two-
time LET winner.
“I feel like I enjoyed it so much
and that’s why I want to have
it again because it’s such a nice
feeling to win on Tour. I wouldn’t
call it pressure, it’s just more that
you want it so badly. I’m just trying
to get into it and stay relaxed.”
This year’s MKLO is being
beamed live globally across 100
countries to 350 million homes.
The live-action is being
broadcast across eleven territories
including Europe, America, Asia
and Sub-Saharan Africa.
BASKETBALL
Confident Okal tips
Morans to return to
Afro-Basket show
DAN OWERRE/ Kenya Morans
forward Ariel Okal believes they
have a chance to return to the FIBA
Afro-Basket finals next year.
Realistically, he said they can
win at least two matches during
the FIBA Afro-Basket Qualifi-
ers Window 1 slated for Tunisia
February 23-25.
In an interview after the morning
training sessions at Nyayo on
Thursday, the widely-traveled star
said they are aware of the task that
lies ahead in Tunisia but are ready.
Kenya open their four-team
campaign against host Tunisia be-
fore meeting Angola and winding up
their fixtures against Guinea.
Okal, one of the most experi-
enced stars on the national side,
said they have met Tunisia and An-
gola before and remain aware that
Angola, a team they beat via a Tylor
Ongwae buzzer in Cameroon four
years ago, will come outfighting.
“They will be coming for revenge.
We are all ready to return to Af-
ro-Basket. This time, we are more
experienced and we have a better
team,” Okal noted.
He remains unperturbed about
the late arrival of diaspora-based
players, saying they are all profes-
sionals who have the experience
and would fit into the team anytime.
“We know what is ahead of
us and we will help one another
as players to grasp whatever we
learn in training.”
Of the 13 diaspora-based players
named to the team, Desmond
Owili who plies his trade in Aus-
tralia and Bramwel Muchina who
plays in Tanzania, are back home.
Assistant coach Ancette Wafula
said the team is a mix of youth
and experience.
Ariel Okal and
Edition 5074
Ken Wachira
during a training
session at
Nyayo Stadium
yesterday
/CHARLENE
MALWA
 KATIBA CORNER HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9-11, 2024 PLUS THE WEEK IN REVIEW // THE BIG DEBATE // OPINION // YOUR LETTERS

ODM OVERHAUL
RAILA KEEPS EVERYONE
GUESSING ON 2027 POLLS
THE AZIMIO LEADER HAS REVAMPED POLLS BOARD, DEVOLVED
PARTY ELECTIONS AND NOMINATIONS TO COUNTIES
 02
COVER STORY REDEEMING IMAGE
ODM plans revamp as Raila keeps
everyone guessing on 2027 duel
The Azimio leader has overhauled polls board, devolved party elections and nominations to counties
O
pposition chief is quiet-
ly rolling out radical re-
forms in his Orange Dem-
ocratic Movement party
as he keeps everyone guessing his
next political steps.
LUKE AWICH The former Prime Minister is tak-
Political writer ing the party for a grand re-brand
in what pundits claim signals his
second sixth stab at the presidency
in 2027.
Raila has not outrightly an-
nounced hanging his political boots
but his allies are piling pressure on
him to throw his hut in the ring.
ODM leaders from the Coast led
by Mombasa Governor Abdulswa-
mad Nassir endorsed him as the
party’s candidate during member-
ship drive in the county in Kwale
last week.
Led by Nassir, the leaders said
Raila was the only leader with the
credentials to take on the failed
Kenya Kwanza leadership and
THE-STAR.CO.KE
pledged to popularise his candi-
dature in all parts of Kenya.
But the Azimio leader brushed off
the push, saying he will make pub-
lic his stand at an appropriate time.
“I have my own mouth and I
will make a declaration at the right
time,” he said.
But silently, Raila is popularising
ODM and making radical changes
in vital party organs as he seeks to
lay strong foundation for 2027 duel.
In the first round of his aggressive
efforts to redeem ODM’s image, he
has overhauled the National Elec-
tions Board and devolved all party
elections and nominations to the
counties.
There will, however, be a
three-member National Coordinat-
ing Commission that will supervise
the exercise in the counties.
Under the new arrangements,
counties will be given freehand to
manage their elections and trans-
mit the results to Chungwa House,
which will not meddle on the re-
sults from the counties.
ODM secretary general Edwin
Sifuna said the party delegates at
the counties will elect the two co-
ordinators.
“We have two coordinators elect-
ed by the delegates, whatever comes
from the counties will be final,” he
CHUNGWA HOUSE HAS NOT
WITNESSED ANY CHANGES
SINCE 2015. THE ODM
CONSTITUTION, HOWEVER,
PROVIDES FOR ELECTIONS
AFTER EVERY FIVE YEARS. THE
LAST TIME THE PARTY TRIED TO
INJECT FRESH BLOOD IN THE
PARTY ENDED IN CHAOS
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
said. In an interview with the Star,
the Nairobi senator said the two of-
ficials should be in office the April
grassroots polls.
“The coordinators will be ap-
pointed by membership at each
county and that is why it is im-
portant to wait for the recruitment
drive; they will be picked after
recruitment drive and before the
elections,” Sifuna said.
“They (the coordinators) are the
ones who are going to run the elec-
tions.”
However, the new approach must
first be ratified by the National Gov-
erning Council before they are im-
plemented.
The party is yet to schedule NGC
to approve the proposal.
Should the top decision-making
organ fail to convene before April,
the Nairobi senator said an interim
agency will takeover the exercise.
“Even if it does not happen like
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
that because the new structure
need to be ratified by the organs
of the party and that has not hap-
pened, we can still find a way to
have a board or a committee that
will take care of the grassroots elec-
tions, it is not a crisis,” Sifuna said.
Richard Tairo and Emily Awita,
who sat in the disbanded NEB,
were retained in the newly created
NCC that will also include Beatrice
Askul.
Abdullahi Diriye and Syntei
Nchoe and nominated Senator
Catherine Mumma were shown
the door.
“The central committee has pro-
posed the disbandment of the par-
ty’s election board as currently con-
stituted and to devolve management
of its elections to the grassroots,”
the ODM secretary general said.
“Henceforth, all party elections
shall be managed at the county level
with two elections coordinators-
one male and one female -in charge
of each county.”
In contrast with 2022 when the
election board was hurriedly re-
constituted two years to the polls,
the Azimio leader wants the new
agency to settle in well in advance.
Raila camp believes that devolv-
ing elections system is a sure way to
tame the culture of bungled ODM
elections that has been blamed for
the outfit’s dismal performance in
general elections.
“The big problem of nomina-
tions has now been addressed,
never again shall nominations in
THE-STAR.CO.KE 03
The ODM supremo is already
traversing the country to rev up
the grassroots ahead of the April
exercise.
The exercise is also meant to
increase the party’s numbers and
make the people own the outfit.
EDWIN SIFUNA Since December, Raila has been
to at least 15 counties leading mem-
bership drive as he prepares ground
We have two for the polls.
Counties visited are Siaya, Homa
coordinators Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kisu-
mu, Kakamega during the first
elected by phase of the drive.
The team has also been to Busia,
the delegates, Vihiga, Bungoma, Lamu, Kilifi,
Kwale, Taita Taveta and Mombasa.
whatever comes From Coast, the former Primer
Minister was scheduled to camp in
from the counties Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo be-
will be final.The fore storming Ruto’s Rift Valley turf.
This, however, did not happen in
coordinators will what Sifuna said was due to a re-
quest from local leadership to have
be appointed by the meetings after the holy month.
“You don’t just walk and go, like
membership at now in North Eastern the leaders
have asked us to wait until Ramad-
each county han is over and it is something that
the party must consider for the ob-
tary general said. vious reasons, that doesn’t mean
The latest changes are the clearest there is a lull,” he said.
indication the ODM chief could be “So many factors influence the
quietly preparing to make a sixth calendar. We will announce when
stab at the presidency in a contest we settle on the dates because it is
with President William Ruto. done in consultation with the local
Apart from the NEB overhaul, the leadership.”
Orange party is also planning the Last week, the ODM brigade
reconstitution of the secretariat, pitched tent in Meru and Nairobi’s
with some senior officials saying Makadara constituency.
the exercise will begin after April The process that will culminate
grassroots elections. in a big rally in Nairobi in March
Chungwa House has not wit- will also be taken to Mt Kenya and
nessed any changes since 2015. Eastern.
The ODM constitution, however, ODM leader Raila According to the ODM plan, only
provides for elections after every Odinga during registered members will be allowed
five years. party membership to participate either as a voter or a
The last time the party tried to in- recruitment drive candidate.
ject fresh blood in the party ended at Kamukunji “If you are not a member, you
in chaos as a faction turned tables grounds in Nairobi will not be allowed to contest any
outside down, ending the elections county seat. If you want any seat then start
Fred Wetang’ula, the counties will be decided by a prematurely during the 2014 infa- /EMMANUEL recruiting members,” ODM deputy
brother of the board in Nairobi,” the ODM secre- mous ‘Men in Black’ fiasco. WANSON party leader Wycliffe Oparanya said.
of National
Assembly
Speaker Moses
Wetang’ula and
Westlands MP
Tim Wanyonyi,
decamp Ford
Kenya to Join
ODM during a
recruitment
drive in Bungoma
county
/EMMANUEL
WANSON
 04
COMMENTARY LOVE OF COUNTRY
Haba na haba: Why change
does not come in chariots
What is interesting is the fact that more often than not, we seem
to speak to one another more audibly in Kiswahili catch-phrases
K
enyans are a creative lot
and the latest catch-phrase
on the lips of many is ‘stori
za jaba’ meaning that ei-
ther something isn’t true or that it’s
ISAAC MWAURA just a pass-time talk. You can trust
our entrepreneurial spirit to conjure
@TheStarKenya up something that puts lots of issues
into perspective.
Government What is interesting, though, is the
spokesperson
fact that more often than not, we
seem to speak to one another more
audibly in Kiswahili catch-phrases
more than in any other language.
This way, more Kenyans are rallied
into action on a national issue that
requires focus and direction.
Some of these initiatives speak
to our collective past, present and a
shared future that transcends what
divides us in order to bring out the
best in us.
My office for example, is leading
a campaign on patriotism aptly
named ‘Uzalendo’ since in recent
times; this national value that is
enshrined in our Constitution has
not been embraced as it should be.
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Kenyans don’t see much value in up-
holding and safeguarding our ‘com-
munal’ interests and would rather
benefit individually at the expense of
the majority. This is the reason why
public resources are vandalised and
taken for granted.
The Uzalendo campaign aims are
speaking to the hearts and minds of
fellow Kenyans in order for them to
extol this virtue in all that they do
so that Project Kenya can succeed in
achieving our aspirations as a na-
tion. The reason behind this is the
fact that there is need for something
beyond enforcement or coercion that
moves people towards a desired out-
come.
The mantra of the campaign is
aptly captured through the phrase
‘Mimi Ni Mzalendo Je Wewe?’ Our
intention as an office is to really rally
all Kenyans to see the value in pro-
tecting that which is Kenyan since
this is the only way we can spur
ourselves into prosperity.
There are also other similar ini-
tiatives like the Huduma Mashinani
Majuu campaign that is being cham-
pioned by the State Department for
Diaspora Affairs. The campaign has
been able to take consular services
to over 9,000 Kenyans in 100 cities
abroad in 22 countries abroad, thus
they don’t waste a lot of time trav-
elling from their hometowns just to
renew a passport or get some gov-
ernment services.
Another great initiative is the Ka-
THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO
RALLYING KENYANS TO
EMBRACE FARMING TO
REDUCE FOOD IMPORTS. IT’S
INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT
IN TAVETA, MORE THAN14,000
ACRES ARE UNDER RICE
PLANTATION, WITH THE
POTENTIAL OF INCREASING TO
MORE THAN 36,000 ACRES
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
hawa Ni Dollar Campaign that has
helped eliminate middlemen and
cartels that have been cheating the
farmer from getting his due share.
Now, coffee farmers can now be paid
directly in US dollars, and they can
now open dollar accounts directly.
This will also help them negotiate for
better exchange rates thus taking ad-
vantage of the shilling depreciation
to make more income, or to retain
value for money in a dollar account.
It will also have the multiplier effect
of many more Kenyans engaging in
forex trading from the comfort of
their homes through digital jobs
and e-commerce since there will
be a wider customer base.
Another great initiative is the
Sema Campaign by the Executive
Office of the President aiming to en-
courage Kenyans to report corrup-
tion within the public service. When
they speak out, the anticorruption
apparatus can then swing into action
and ensure to Kenyans that remedial
action is taken. This way, we shall
have a better, more accountable so-
ciety that benefits from government
services as public goods.
In this regard, there is also a new
app in town aptly named ‘Pasha’
that is aimed at giving the citizenry
an opportunity to give feedback on
government services. An initiative of
the Commission for Administrative
Justice (CAJ or the Ombudsman),
and the ministry of Public Service,
this app aims at ensuring there is
continuous feedback on what the
government should do to improve
the quality of life for us all.
Further, the government is also
rallying Kenyans to embrace farming
to reduce food imports. It’s inter-
esting to note that in Taveta, more
than14,000 acres are under rice
plantation, with the potential of in-
creasing to more than 36,000 acres.
This is even more than the 20,000
acres in Mwea.
Most of the Taveta rice is, howev-
er, sold in Tanzania, yet the Kenya
Kwanza government is keen on in-
creasing rice production in Kenya
from the current 18 percent to 40
percent.
Through the fertiliser subsidy
programme, the ‘Mbolea Mashinani’
clarion call helps in pushing this
initiative to ensure that more than
6.4 million farmers have access to
the 12.5 million fertiliser bags being
availed to them during both the long
rains and short rains. This alone will
help increase maize production to
the targeted 72 million bags by the
year 2027 under a campaign named
72 by 27.
The aim of this is to reduce maize
importation and to ensure the coun-
try is self-sufficient. For example, an
increase of 21 million bags of maize
from the initial 40 to 61 million has
helped reduce the cost of unga by
nearly half, from a high of Sh240 to
the current Sh130.
This has translated to better
household incomes, by reducing
the cost of food, which according
to the The Beta Plan, accounts for
more than 50 percent of household
income.
To lower the cost of production
and living, the government has
also reduced the cost of electricity
by 3.44/kwh per unit so if a hustler
consumes 100 units a month, he will
save Sh344.
A lot is being done by the govern-
ment, na hizo sio stori za jaba!
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 05

COLUMN DILIGENCE

Time to ensure safety of property

buyers, tenants to avert disasters
The deadly gas explosion in Em-
bakasi that has so far killed seven
people and injured around 300 got
me thinking, could our property
purchase and renting style be in-
fluencing careless national devel-
@TheStarKenya opment? Also, are we letting devel-
opers have it easy, and what can the
Communications
researcher and government do?
scholar currently We invest a lot of our time, energy,
pursuing Peace and emotions and resources to purchase
Development Work
Studies in Sweden or rent properties in Kenya. In most
cases you will either email, text or
bwirevera@gmail. call an established real estate agency,
com or just call a preferred or referred lo-
cal businessman or woman running
a solo real estate agency. Other ways
of getting a house would be coming
across an agent or the owner’s num-
ber put up on a board typically on
the gate of the house or apartment
to be let.
Once one gets in touch with their
preferred agent, all you need to do is
agree on a preferred date and time.
With the advent of WhatsApp, you
will likely receive images of the
property beforehand. The location
and cost of the property will be re-
vealed to you at this stage as well,
and this is the point at which the
buyer or tenant might decide to go
for the staging of the house or not.
Sellers or landlords at this point will
try to make the property as as allur- results of the areas where we live religious practices, like overnight Investigators obvious gas smell. Social media at
ing as possible. with our families. praise and worship, better known at the site of a some point also had leaked messages
Are the images and amenities Be it the air quality, industries, gas as ‘kesha’, must also be regulated. gas explosion of people who attempted to report
good enough though? Agreed, stations, agriculture and farming ac- Any unsafe open water bodies or in Embakasi, the gas depot and the gas smell, but
schools, colleges, restaurants, hospi- tivities that take place and the level construction sites should be exposed Nairobi county, nothing seems to have ever been
tals, shopping malls, entertainment of chemicals like pesticides used in on this same ‘caution’ cite, especially on February 2 done, up until the unfortunate inci-
centres and sports clubs, among the area as a result. for the sake of any innocent children /XINHUA dent. If these tenants or buyers knew
other things, are crucial to know, Any quarries that can expose moving into the area. Such efforts such information before hand, then
but are the other important issues? homes to long-term cracks and will also work towards achieving they would make better decisions on
Does buyer or potential tenant ever eventual damage; dangerous do- SDG 3, good health and wellbeing whether to settle there or not.
get to ask about the overall safety of mestic and wild animals in the areas for all Kenyans. Any buyer, tenant, should be privy
the neighbourhood? and having the respective owners Looking back at the Embakasi to all the information that deals with
This is the catch, and they must of domestic animals and park rep- gas incident, people unknowingly their health and safety at the click of
persuade you properly. It is also the resentatives be responsible for any or knowingly rented and purchased a button. Real estate agents should
government’s role to push counties harm or damage. properties near an ‘illegal’ gas de- share the necessary pages which has
to frequently make public updated Noise pollution from bars, pot. It is reported that a few people all these and more relevant infor-
Environmental Impact Assessment churches and mosques and extreme mentioned to have earlier felt the mation.

Why Odinga should and dump’, has already forgotten the

usefulness of the governor and his
people. Otuoma has been very in-
portunities to Bondo. He also has
proven to those people and Luhyas
that he is greedy.

respect Busia people

clusive in his Cabinet and offered
lucrative portfolios to Luos. It is in
Busia county where Luo are MCAs.
Let’s reason together Kenyans: Can
a non-Luo be voted as an MCA in
Bondo when Raila is alive?
Baba should be reminded that the
It is barbaric that the ‘Father of the
Nation’ of Raila’s cadre can work up
a crowd to heckle Otuoma, leading
to fight between supporters of war-
ring parties.
He perpetually confirms to Ken-
yans in his every move that he is

R
OKWARO OSCAR
PLATO aila Odinga, also known as
Baba, has been the darling
@TheStarKenya of the Busia electorate for
more than a decade. The
Political analyst residents have overwhelmingly vot-
ed for him passionately in the last
three consecutive elections to such
an extent the county has assumed
the tag “Orange county.” However,
it seems he has decided to abuse the
goodwill of those electorate and its
leaders.
Recently, he and his entourage
toured the county to launch an
ODM recruitment drive. Ironically,
the party turned the rally to demoni-
sation campaign against Governor
Paul Otuoma and other elected lead-
ers who “seem” tolerant to the cur-
rent President William Ruto regime.
They were labelled as “traitors.”
One does not expect a statesman
of Raila’s calibre to use a public po-
dium to belittle Otuoma in front of
his people.
The governor spent money and
sleepless nights during the last
general election to ensure the Busia
electorate delivered their votes to his
presidential bid.
It now appears the ODM leader,
who has perfected the politics of ‘use
country is four years away to the
2027 election, and just like any other
county, Busia people need develop-
ment. And for development to be
realised, leaders must work closely
with President Ruto.
If the governor stops attending
the head of state’s meetings in the
county, definitely he will not have
the opportunity to express and/or
request for projects that can uplift
his people from abject poverty.
Virtually, Raila has been in every
government, either by default or
design since 1997, but he has noth-
ing to show for the Busia residents.
Instead, he has takes available op-
egocentric with no clear agenda.
The first tour President Ruto made
was in Homa Bay county, where
Gladys Wanga is the governor. It is
where the head of state launched
affordable housing project first.
Surprisingly, Agwambo did not
utter a single word to complain
why his ODM stalwarts embraced
the President’s rallies in Homa Bay.
But when it comes to the Busia gov-
ernor, Raila’s narrow-minded praise
singers label the leaderships in the
county untrustworthy.
It is time for the former PM to re-
spect Busia and allow its leadership
to deliver its campaign promises.
 06
KATIBA CORNER EQUALITY
Human rights and democracy
T
his article is inspired by a
recent court decision that
largely equates the position
of non-human “persons” to that of
human beings in the context of hu-
JILL GHAI man rights.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
@KatibaInstitute Constitutional human rights pro-
tections are arguably a restriction
Director, Katiba
Institute on democracy. Chapter Four of the
Constitution says that the elected
government and Parliament may not
freely do certain things, even if they
are part of the policy on the basis of
which they were in theory elected.
Of course, sometimes human rights
are specifically in support of democ-
racy – like the right to vote.
We can say that the constitution is
also the voice of the people (some-
thing the President forgets when he
says he will ignore the constitutional
rulings of courts because will of the
people is “the voice of God”). The
people adopted it by referendum,
including the Bill of Rights with its
limits on the powers of government.
The main function of a constitu-
tion is to set up the system under
which the country will be governed.
And a government must be allowed
to govern. There are, it is true, vari-
ous ways in which our constitution
does limit or at least guide what
government may do. The division of
powers between national and county
governments is one. Some provisions
on public finance also – public mon-
ey must be used prudently, the bur-
den of taxation must be fair.
But human rights are the most
extensive set of limitations. Why
is it proper to limit government in
this way? Because some things are so
important that even a democratical-
ly elected government must not be
allowed to ignore or violate them. Or
at least must do so only if some more
important public or private purpose
is to be achieved.
The courts should not rush to
expand the limits on the powers
of government. Beyond the limits
clearly imposed by the constitution,
the limits on those powers should
be those stem from politics, public
pressure, policy and common sense.
THE HUMANITY OF RIGHTS
The nature of human rights is indi-
cated by their name. And the con-
stitution spells it out clearly: “The
purpose of recognising and protect-
ing human rights and fundamental
freedoms is to preserve the dignity of
individuals and communities and to
promote social justice and the reali-
sation of the potential of all human
beings” (Article 19( 2 )).
“The rights and fundamental
freedoms in the Bill of Rights— (a)
belong to each individual…” (Article
19( 3 )).
Judges have often emphasised this:
“[H]uman dignity is the foundation
for recognition and protection of
More news on human rights … Regardless of one’s
our website. status or position, or mental or phys-
Scan this quick ical condition, one is, by virtue of
response code
using your
being human, worthy of having his
or her dignity or worth respected.”
smartphone. (Justice Mumbi Ngugi).
THE-STAR.CO.KE
My problem lies with cases in
which courts have equated non-hu-
man persons (like companies) with
human beings. (Communities and
associations are different - as group-
ing of human beings.) You might ob-
ject that Article 260 says, “’person’
includes a company, association
or other body of persons whether
incorporated or unincorporated.”
But that Article begins by saying “In
this Constitution, unless the context
requires otherwise…” before listing
the meanings of particular words
and phrases.
It is my contention that generally
the human rights context requires
that “person” means “human per-
son.” Indeed Article 19 is saying just
that.
Occasionally, even in Chapter
Four, the context does envisage a
“person” as including a company
or association. Article 20(1) says
“The Bill of Rights … binds all State
organs and all persons.” Clearly this
includes companies.
And Article 34( 1 ) says that “Free-
dom and independence of electronic,
print and all other types of media is
guaranteed”. This seems clearly to
guarantee freedom of media includ-
ing to non-human persons. Cultural
life (Article 44 ) makes sense only in a
THE MAIN FUNCTION OF A
CONSTITUTION IS TO SET UP
THE SYSTEM UNDER WHICH THE
COUNTRY WILL BE GOVERNED.
AND A GOVERNMENT MUST BE
ALLOWED TO GOVERN
community. Some other rights could
in theory be enjoyed by agencies.
Examples are the right to property,
a decent environment, freedom of
association and perhaps movement.
Most of the rights are really only
appropriate for humans. Some re-
fer to specific groups of people, like
children or the elderly. The right to
life, and family life, to education,
to demonstrate, not to be subject-
ed to violence or slavery, to vote, to
access to justice and to go on strike
are clearly rights of and for humans.
I return to equality below. The South
African Constitution, from which
we drew much inspiration, touches
on the issue.
It says “A juristic person is entitled
to the rights in the Bill of Rights to
the extent required by the nature
of the rights and the nature of that
juristic person”. Unfortunately our
constitution includes a clause that
seems based on this – but says noth-
ing about the “nature of the person”
so is really meaningless.
However, the language explaining
the “human” nature of human rights
in our constitution is much more
emphatic than that in the South
African constitution.
Kenyan courts have (rightly) held
that government does not have the
benefit of these rights.
So can a company ever do so?
South African cases have tend-
ed to say that it is really a matter
of whether the human beings that
make up the company suffer. So
discrimination against a company
might be because of the nature of its
shareholders and/or directors, and
negatively affect those human be-
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
ings. Cases like this have been quoted
by Kenyan courts.
THE KENYAN CASE
To come to the recent case. It in-
volved a claim by a company that
argued it ought to be able to partic-
ipate in a criminal trial as the victim
of the offence. The Victims Protection
Act says, “’victim’ means any natu-
ral person who suffers injury, loss
or damage as a consequence of an
offence.”
This meant that the victim of the
crime in question, as a company,
could not make a victim statement,
which might include “information
on the impact of the offence on the
victim’s life and any concerns the
victim may have about their safety”.
The judge held that to refuse to
allow a juristic person to make use
of this possibility was to discrimi-
nate against them and was therefore
a breach of Article 27.
Article 27 lists possible reasons for
discrimination, and forbids their use
(without good legal reason). They are
“race, sex, pregnancy, marital status,
health status, ethnic or social ori-
gin, colour, age, disability, religion,
conscience, belief, culture, dress,
language or birth.”
These are all obviously issues that
affect human beings – not compa-
nies. It is true that Article 27 indicates
that there are other forbidden rea-
sons for discrimination. Possibilities,
in my view, include sexual orienta-
A protester tion, height (to protect people with
holds the Kenya dwarfism), and weight (to prevent
constitution “fattism”).
during a protest I believe it is inappropriate to in-
by women clude “being a juristic rather than a
to condemn natural person”. This is because of
increased killing the general principle of rights be-
of activists ing to protect the dignity of human
outside City Hall, beings, and because any addition to
Nairobi county, the list in Article 27 ought to be of the
on January 12, same broad type - which is affecting
2022 /FILE human beings.
People form companies, creating
non-human persons, to get certain
advantages, including to escape per-
sonal financial liability if things go
wrong. Should they have it both ways
– the advantages while escaping the
disadvantages of being a company?
I am afraid there is some misun-
derstanding about discrimination.
There is discrimination if you can
say “X with a certain personal char-
acteristic was treated like this, while
Y without that characteristic was
treated differently” (and unfairly –
no space to go into this here).
I do not believe that being an ar-
tificial person as opposed to a nat-
ural person is the sort of difference
intended. Still less was the judge
was right to say that the lawyers for
companies “are not treated equally
and are denied equal opportunity to
defend their clients’ interests.”
It is not some characteristic of the
lawyers that (directly or indirectly)
affects them, just the particular
brief. And I would reject the notion
that they are being disadvantaged,
anyway.
Lawyers and judges need, I am
afraid, to read, think about and rely
on the constitution more carefully.
 Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
the week SHOT OF THE WEEK
Former Silibwet MCA aspirant Bildad Cheruiyot after he was arrested in Bomet town for leading demonstrations against Bomet county over what he and others termed poor delivery of
services in the devolved unit /JEFF KIRUI
BRIEFS / FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Trump’s failed impunity appeal
still a win for his delay strategy
BBC -Donald Trump has been handed a defeat in court -
but one that comes with a generous helping of victory.
An appeals court ruled that Mr Trump is not immune from
criminal prosecution for acts committed while he was
president. The time it took to issue that decision, however,
has indefinitely delayed Mr Trump’s federal trial related
to the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. So while
Mr Trump did not successfully assert sweeping new
presidential powers to act with impunity while in office, the
tentative 4 March start date in Washington DC has been
removed from the federal court’s calendar. And there is no
indication of when it might reappear. This is in keeping with
the former president’s strategy of throwing sand in the
gears of the judicial process whenever possible, according
to Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor.
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Senegal on the brink after
2024 elections postponed
BBC -Senegal’s reputation as a bastion of democracy in an
unstable region is on the line after protesters clashed with
riot police outside parliament on Monday. Inside, lawmakers
passed a contentious bill to extend President Macky Sall’s
tenure and delay elections after he called off a planned
election with just three weeks to go. The opposition say
some of their members were forcibly removed from the
parliament building by police in riot gear to stop them from
voting. Khalifa Sall, a leading opponent and a former mayor
of Dakar, who is not related to the president, called the delay
a “constitutional coup” and urged people to protest against
it. His political coalition has vowed to go to court. Thierno
Alassane Sall, another candidate, also no relation, called it
“high treason” and urged his supporters to gather in front of
the National Assembly to protest.
07
Gaza’s Hamas responds to
proposed Gaza ceasefire
BBC - Hamas says it has given its response to a framework
proposal for a new ceasefire in Gaza. The details of the
deal - set out by Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt - have not
been released. It was earlier reported to include a six-week
truce, when more Israeli hostages would be exchanged for
Palestinian prisoners. Israel and the US have both said they
are reviewing Hamas’s response. US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, who is currently in the Middle East, said he
would discuss Hamas’s response with officials in Israel on
Wednesday. While Mr Blinken has given no indication of how
the US views the response, President Joe Biden described it
as “a little over the top” - suggesting the Israeli leadership
will not easily agree to what the group is asking. A senior
Hamas official told the BBC the group had presented a
“positive vision” in response to the framework.
 08 THE-STAR.CO.KE Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024

BBC EXPLAINER
the week FACT CHECKER
PESACHECK

ALTERED: This
image claiming
to show a sign at
Nyayo House is
doctored

T
his image on X
(formerly Twitter)
of a signpost erected
outside Nairobi’s Nyayo
House reading “Nyayo House
is a corruption zone” has been
ALTERED.
The image, which has the
Kenyans.co.ke logo, is placed
side by side another photo of
the Nyayo House.
Is it true that a signpost
stating that “Nyayo House is
a corruption zone” has been
erected outside the Nyayo
House?
A keyword search on the
Kenyans.co.ke official Facebook
page led to a post showing the
original image. The signpost
in the original image is “Nyayo
Nurgül Göksu says she used to be a “normal” housewife before the quake struck /BBC
House is a corruption-free

How a grieving mother exposed the

zone”.
A reverse image search
confirmed the content of the

truth of Turkey’s deadly earthquake

Kenyans.co.ke Facebook post.
The search results led to an
article published by The Star

O
knowledge. She spoke to local civil engineers and on 7 September 2023, featuring
n 6 February 2023, a huge earthquake hit a photograph of the signpost
southern Turkey, killing more than 55,000 construction experts. She learnt how to find “before”
and “after” photos online and began to understand with the inscription “Nyayo
people.
It has now become clear that scores of lives building regulations and what processes were required House is a corruption free
could have been saved if building regulations had been to approve any alterations. zone.”
observed. Then, in June last year, she came across a BBC Turkish Interior Cabinet Secretary
One mother has made it her mission to find out video on YouTube, made about the collapse of one Kithure Kindiki also shared
what caused the building where her loved ones lived building in the city of Izmir following an earthquake an image of the signpost on
to collapse. Before the earthquake struck Nurgül Göksu in 2020. X, further corroborating the
was, as she says, a normal housewife. She loved cooking, Nurgül messaged us on social media asking for help information displayed on
with “içli köfte”, a traditional dish of meatballs, one of analysing the collapse of the Ezgi Building.
We stayed in touch with her for months, while she
Kenyans.co.ke and The Star.
her favourite recipes. The altered signpost began
She lived on the outskirts of Istanbul. Her 31-year-old continued to investigate whether alterations made to
the buildinghad been done correctly. circulating after comments
son, Ahmet Can Zabun, married, with a young baby,
lived in the south-eastern city of Kahramanmaras. “I tried to find as much evidence as I could at the from Kenyans on X and media
Ahmet Can wasn’t Nurgül’s only child, but as place where I lost my child,” Nurgül says. reports regarding the delays
her oldest son whom she had as a teen mum, their “It shouldn’t have been my responsibility. But it in the issuance of Kenyan
relationship was special. seems that had I not done it, we wouldn’t have found passports.
She put him through university and was proud of anything.” In a special report titled
what he achieved. Both Ahmet Can and his wife Nesibe Nurgül found out that in many quake-hit areas “Broken Government
the investigations, opened after claims of violations
were lawyers. Nurgül herself never went to university,
and had to finish school through an external degree. ON FEBRUARY of building regulations, were being closed due to
Services,” NTV Kenya
spotlighted instances where
When the quake hit Kahramanmaras, at least 7,000
buildings in the city collapsed, including Ahmet Can’s.
6, 2023, insufficient evidence.
She didn’t want this to happen to her own individuals have waited for up
to a year to get their passports
Nurgül dashed to the city to search for her son, his wife A HUGE investigation, so she gave numerous TV interviews
to publicise her case. Despite not having been a keen despite assurances from the
and their child - or, as she puts it, her “three children”.
While many buildings in Kahramanmaras had been EARTHQUAKE social media user before the earthquake, she also Interior Cabinet Secretary that
the process would take just 10
destroyed in the earthquake, the area where Nurgül’s
son lived didn’t seem to have been affected as badly.
HIT SOUTHERN opened an Instagram account about the Ezgi Building,
trying to gather information from other families of days.
Much of the neighbourhood was barely damaged. But TURKEY, those who died and building experts.
Nurgül stressed that the prosecutor could have used
PesaCheck has looked into
his residential block, 10 storeys high and known as the an image on X (formerly
Ezgi Building, was one of very few which were flattened. KILLING MORE public records to gather evidence about the way the Twitter) of a signpost erected
building was initially built.
Similar discrepancies occurred in other quake-
affected areas too. Many in Turkey started asking why
THAN 55,000 However, she wanted to make sure all parties
outside Nyayo House with a
“Nyayo House is a corruption
some buildings collapsed and others did not, even if they PEOPLE responsible for the building’s collapse would be
brought to justice - which was why she focused zone” inscription and found it
had been situated right next to each other and were of to be ALTERED.
similar height, age and construction style. on gathering evidence of how the restorations and
Nurgül waited as the rescue teams trawled through alterations to the building had been carried out.
the ruins of the Ezgi Building. When the prosecutor’s office opened an inquiry and
Eight days later, the bodies of Ahmet Can, his wife commissioned an expert report into the collapse of Ezgi
Nesibe and their baby daughter Asude, Nurgül’s Building, Nurgül’s evidence became a key contribution.
granddaughter, were found. The report, which was completed in July 2023, found
Baby Asude was only six months old. that many alterations to the building were carried out
“Losing not just one but three children is truly hard,” in violation of existing regulations and were illegal.
says Nurgül. Dr Beyza Taşkın, an associate professor of civil
She frequently shares family photos on social media engineering at Istanbul Technical University, told the
accounts she created after the disaster. BBC the fact that surrounding buildings remained
“I didn’t want them to die in vain and for me to just intact indicates that there was a major structural issue
forget about them,” says Nurgül. with the Ezgi Building.
In total, 35 people died in the collapse of the Ezgi The report revealed that a key support element was
Building. Only two survived. either never built properly or was altered later.
Following the loss of her family, Nurgül decided to Official lab analysis also showed that some materials
get to the bottom of why her son’s building collapsed and construction processes didn’t meet approved
while others didn’t. But she needed evidence and expert standards.
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 09

THE WEEK/ GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT EMBAKASI GAS VICTIMS AS KHALWALE SUES TYCOON TOP 4 STORIES
1 2 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Kantaria: Family
feuds and fight
with depression
Suresh Nanalal Kantaria would be
spending his time with family and
grandchildren at his Sh300 million
five-bedroom mansion in Nairobi’s
Gigiri suburb among Kenya’s elite
and affluential figures – had things
gone according to plan.But the script
changed midway, scattering his fam-

3 ily after an acrimonious divorce that

has left the multimillionaire fighting
with his former wife over properties.
4 That fight has roped in his cousins
and seen his son flee.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
How academic
frauds cheat their
way to state jobs
A TSC employee reportedly used
her sister’s academic papers to
secure a job at the agency. For 10
years she held the job with the fake
papers and was paid more than Sh3
million as salary. It wasn’t just the
KCSE and higher education papers
that she took but also her sister’s
6 identity card. The woman would
have continued enjoying the ben-
efits had the sister not sought a job
with Trans Nzoia county. During
cross-checking, EACC says it dis-
covered that the two shared details.

5 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

7 TSC cracks down

on teachers with
tough sanctions
8 Learners are prohibited from going
to their teachers’ houses to help
with chores or for any other rea-
son.A new law proposed by TSC
makes it illegal for teachers to send
or host learners at their residences.
TSC wants teachers hosting stu-
dents at guest houses, hotels and
1. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga (fourth right) and other county officials lodgings outlawed. Should MPs
display a Sh35 million dummy cheque to be disbursed to successful applicants approve the TSC (Amendment)
of the Enterprise Development Fund /KNA Bill, 2024, teachers would be pun-
2. DP Rigathi Gachagua comsoles a survivor of the Embakasi gas explosion at ished for giving learners household
the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital on February 2. He said chores at their residences.
the government will offer support to all the affected people /DPCS
3. Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka (left) inspects Hopekins Hospital ICU
facility during the official launch at Township ward in Kanduyi constituency THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8
/KNA
4. Kalama MCA Boniface Maeke is consoled by Matungulu MP Stephen Mule Mystery of Sh6.3
at the Nairobi Hospital after his limbs were broken while resisting arrest
from county officers outside Machakos law courts on January31 /VERONICA billion spent in
NTHAKYO
5. Nyeri Governor Kahiga and his Bungoma counterpart Lusaka during a Uhuru’s last days
meeting with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development in Nairobi /KNA Top officials in former President
6. Lawyer Danstan Omari and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwele address Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration
journalists outside Milimani law courts after issuing a defamation letter to could be in trouble over Sh6.3
businessman Cleophas Shimalunya, alias Toto, on Wednesday /DOUGLAS billion expenditure to buy shares
OKIDDY that the Auditor General says are
7. Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, Samuel Muchiri, deputy Auditor General Sylvester doubtful. Fresh revelations have
Kiini and National of Assembly Public Accounts Committee chairman John emerged of how the former regime
Mbadi in Parliament on Wednesday /EZEKIEL AMING’A splurged billions to buy shares
8. EALA nominated MP Suleiman Shahbal (right) with EALA members who in two banks in the final days
visited the Buxton housing project on Wednesday of the Uhuru’s rule. The money
/LABAN WALLOGA was spent without the approval
9. Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja addresses heads of Senate committees
in Naivasha during a retreat to review the mandates as the two Parliaments
9 of Parliament, with the then
Executive citing Article 223 of the
prepare to resume their sittings on February 13 /KNA Constitution.
 10
COLUMN DANGER OF SILENCE
Dying embers of firebrand politics
fuel state misrule as citizens suffer
T
COLLINS AJUOK
here are six elderly ladies in
@TheStarKenya the village for whom I have
been paying monthly NHIF
Political contributions for some
commentator time now, including my mother.
Since anything that requires one to
remember monthly deadlines can
be quite tricky, I often pay several
months in advance for each, because
the cut-off date is the ninth of each
month, before the contribution goes
into arrears and attracts a penalty.
It has been a relatively peaceful
process for many years. Through the
old NHIF pay bill number 200222, I
would make these payments, get an
instant confirmation, before I dialled
their USSD code to check the status
of each contributor. They were all in-
stantly updated, with the last month
of the advance contributions. For
all intents and purposes, this was a
functioning process and there was
no need to reinvent the wheel or
“fix” what wasn’t broken.
But you can trust the Kenya Kwan-
za regime to bring disorder where
there is none. Smart alecks in the
regime decided that payments for
all government services would
henceforth be channeled through
a single pay bill number 222222,
via the e-Citizen platform. I hope
to see the wisdom of this in the fu-
ture, but I am not holding my breath,
because the trial and error method
of governance associated with this
government means that the shelf life
of hope is very short.
Anyway, in late December, early
January and early February, I made
the regular member contributions
for my relatives via e-Citizen. In
each case, one wasn’t updated, and
in each case, the member was shown
as “in arrears”, with a penalty due. I
sent emails to NHIF customer care
people, who dutifully sent me an
e-Citizen “unreflected payments”
form each time, which, as you have
probably guessed, went one way
without a response. In a nutshell, in
a short span of six weeks, I had lost
Sh3, 000 in contributions to NHIF
and the attendant total penalty of
Sh750, because I had to follow up
with fresh payments alongside the
penalties, in order to keep the old la-
dies covered to avoid inconveniences
with any sudden ailments.
I consider myself a relatively en-
lightened man, with solid networks
within the civil service and the po-
litical establishment on both sides
of the parliamentary divide. On any
given day, when I need help with
matters that require high-level in-
tervention, I easily find someone in
my phonebook to call, who can help.
IF SECOND LIBERATION WARRIORS
HAD APPROACHED MOI AND HIS
GOVERNMENT POLITELY, BOTH
MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY AND
FREE SPEECH WOULD STILL BE A
FARAWAY DREAM TODAY
THE-STAR.CO.KE
Yet on this robbery by the e-Citizen National Health
payment platform, I realised I wasn’t Insurance Fund
making much headway and worried headquarters in
about the millions of Kenyans who Nairobi /FILE
might be experiencing similar issues
to mine, with no easy recourse.
You have to wonder: how much of
these payments to different institu-
tions remain “unreflected” and what
is the impact on the financial and
operational bases of the institutions?
This is not even the initial question
I had in mind.
The greater issue is the emerging
culture of silence in the face of poor
governance, collapsing institutional
foundations and an almost universal
acceptance within a large section of
the population that these hiccups
and bouts of misrule are ‘normal’
in this regime, without considering
their ultimate cost to the economy
and the national fabric.
On Thursday last week, Nairobi
Senator Edwin Sifuna was on the
popular Daybreak morning show
on Citizen TV. Before I say anything
about the show, I think the Royal Me-
dia Services, owners of Citizen TV,
should consider supporting a grass-
roots project of Sifuna’s choice in his
Nairobi base, because he has turned
the show into the most-watched po-
litical conversation in the country,
with massive ratings every week.
As fate would have it, Sifuna’s reg-
ular sparring partner on the show,
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale
was away bereaved, so Daadab MP
Farah Maalim and Tana River Senator
Danson Mungatana were unlucky
recipients of doses of acid from Si-
funa’s vitriolic tongue.
The debate brought to the fore part
of the problem of governance in the
country; elected leaders who see no
evil and hear no evil. Throughout
the show, Maalim and Mungatana
were more concerned with “show-
ing respect to the President”, than
with the public interest issues being
discussed.
To begin with, Maalim quoted a
non-existent law banning same sex
relationships, to which Sifuna edu-
cated him by letting him know that
the penal code criminalises “car-
nal knowledge against the order of
nature”, which essentially includes
even heterosexual relationships that
violate this order of nature.
I cite this particular anecdote only
to demonstrate that regime apolo-
gists often assume that their actions
and words have the backing of the
law, without actually knowing or
reading the law.
Which is to say that the tripod on
which impunity stands and thrives
encompasses the already stated
culture of silence, the philosophy
of ignorance of the law and declin-
ing numbers of firebrand politicians
speaking out on behalf of the people.
Some quarters have questioned the
Nairobi senator’s abrasive methods.
Indeed, the two ‘elders’ appearing
with him on that Thursday show
consistently asked him to go slow on
them. But the truth is that the pur-
veyors of poor governance, regard-
less of their age or office, already lose
respect for themselves by peddling
lies and false hope to the masses.
I am reminded about the perenni-
al debate over which freedom icon,
Martin Luther King Jnr and Malcolm
X was more effective in the move-
ment. King’s moderate, non-violent
methods versus Malcolm’s radical
and abrasive style. Sifuna’s style is
probably a touch of both, but what
most people may see as being rude
to authority and to self-styled elders
is, in fact, impatience with systems
that don’t work and state incom-
petence.
Indeed, during the 30th death an-
niversary prayers for freedom icon,
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, presiding
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
Bishop at St Stephen’s Cathedral in
Kisumu, declared, “This country
needs more elected leaders like
Edwin Sifuna.”
Radicals and firebrand politicians
largely undertook the second liber-
ation. It was a necessity from the re-
alisation that then President Moi and
his regime wouldn’t understand any
other language. The Ruto regime, in
many ways, reminds one of the Moi
government, with its entrenched
incompetence, allegations of cor-
ruption within it and its affinity for
endless promises to the people that
never were fulfilled.
If second liberation warriors had
approached Moi and his government
politely in the 80s and 90s, speak-
ing in deference to the elders and
begging for constitutional freedoms,
both multi-party democracy and
free speech would still be a faraway
dream today. It turns out, liberty is
not a favour for which you kneel
before dictators, begging for your
piece, like scraps of sliced potatoes.
This is why the third liberation,
which now boasts firebrands like
Sifuna, requires a new cast that
takes up from where the second
one left off. Unfortunately, political
expediency and a weak ‘stomach
infrastructure’ has led many elect-
ed leaders into money settlements
through which they auction their
mandate to the highest bidder.
Effectively, as firebrands become
fewer and fewer, the wiggle room for
impunity and misrule has become
bigger and bigger. Courage is rare to
come by. The Nairobi Senator finds
himself in a lonely fight, but one in
which he has no luxury of retreat or
surrender. Principles in politics and
leadership are now alien. Which ex-
plains why I am paying penalties to
contributions I have already sent to
NHIF, which got lost somewhere, but
no one will speak up for my people!
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 11

COMMENTARY ‘ETERNAL RAILA’

Nexus of political power, nepotism

and wealth in opposition politics
I
t would be sheer gullibility
if Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene
Wamalwa, and other Azimio
politicians were caught off guard
by Raila or Orange Democratic
Movement’s current ‘recruitment
CALEB MWAMISI
drive’ across the country. Raila was
@TheStarKenya obviously going to react to Kalonzo’s
Political push for the opposition presidential
commentator ticket in 2027 and downsize him.
Prior to the commencement of
this new campaign, Kalonzo and
his Wiper brigade had sought that
Azimo embrace his presidential
candidature for 2027, even
entertaining hopes of initiating his
presidential campaigns early as they
introduced the ‘Mapema ndio best’
mantra. Kalonzo and Eugene seem
to have opted to come together and
proceed on a direction-challenged
political excursion.
On the other hand, Raila and
his Orange Democratic Movement
Party are going across the country
on the ‘recruitment drive’ which is
seen by many as another platform
to revive his undying presidential
candidature. Clearly, Raila will not
relent and will give it a shot again
in 2027. This must make the likes
of Martha Karua, Jeremiah Kioni
and other weaker politicians really
agitated as Kalonzo and Eugene.
These feelings may not be vividly adeptly manoeuvred the structures transparency and accountability will inherit them. Deep down they
expressed to the public, but their of political parties to amass wealth, within many African political parties Former have no interest to hand over their
existence is a no-brainer. Karua, often at the expense of their exacerbates the issue of wealth governors political muscle and control to
Eugene, and others are political constituents’ well-being and the accumulation. You will notice Mwangi Wa other politicians who appear close
minions compared to the ‘eternal’ broader interests of the nation. how quickly people with varying Iria (Murang’a) to them, because the parties are
Raila. At the heart of this phenomenon opinion are branded betrayers and and Wycliffe money-minting vehicles. Lower
Besides the agitation for power, lies the intertwining of political rogues. Limited oversight and weak Oparanya rank politicians in the parties will
there is reason opposition politicians power and economic gain. African regulatory frameworks provide (Kakamega), Narc be uncomfortable with the agenda,
will embark on drives to build a political parties, rather than fertile ground for illicit financial Kenya leader but they must remain quiet for fear
following across the country. In serving as platforms for genuine activities to flourish unchecked Martha Karua, of being exorcised. The best way the
Kenya, leaders of political parties representation and the advancement within the parties. Without ODM leader Raila party leaders sustain their agenda is
cement the support of their own of democratic ideals, have frequently injecting money into party activities, Odinga, Eugene to ensure the matters never come
ethnic communities first. Some been co-opted into instruments politicians become insignificant to Wamalwa and up for discussion on any party
parties, like Wiper, have never grown for personal enrichment. This the patron. This is why some Kenyan Jeremiah Kioni platform.
any stronger outside of the regions exploitation of political machinery governors or former governors are during a press Nepotism undermines the
of their kingpins. ODM and the for personal gain manifests in powerful in opposition parties conference at meritocratic principles upon which
UDA are the only parties today with various forms, from corruption because they inject the money they Capitol Hill Square effective governance should be
strong nationwide support, with that and embezzlement to nepotism and siphon from Wananchi into party in Nairobi county built. When political appointments
of the former dwindling and the cronyism. This is a reality in Kenya’s activities. They financially facilitate /EMMANUEL and opportunities are granted
ruling party’s wide-ranging gains opposition politics. the patrons that method for political WANSON based on familial ties rather than
in 2022 defying political predictions. Moreover, political parties serve survival. This is believed to be why a qualifications and competence, it
One major reason some opposition as conduits for patronage networks, former governor in western Kenya is results in the elevation of individuals
politicians cannot agree to reconcile wherein politicians reward loyalty very close to a party leader currently. who may lack the skills and expertise
their agendas and to come together is and support with lucrative positions, This pervasive culture of political required to fulfill their roles
the diametrically opposed interests contracts, and favours. This system self-enrichment is the reason why effectively. This compromises the
and fear of political death by some. of political patronage perpetuates some prominent opposition honchos quality of leadership and diminishes
It is impossible also, for Raila and a cycle of dependency and will not drop their perennial bids for the capacity of institutions to deliver
Kalonzo to ditch or merge their subservience, wherein individuals presidency. If they do, their business meaningful outcomes for citizens.
own parties because the Orange are incentivised to align themselves enterprise will die. Strengthening Yet the opposition honchos will go
Democratic Movement is more than with parties in pursuit of personal democratic institutions, enhancing out branding themselves as social
twice as large as Wiper and Kalonzo gain, rather than working towards transparency and accountability democrats and presenting their
and his cronies would have a weak the collective good of the country. mechanisms, and promoting civic parties as democratic. Kenyans
say in such an arrangement. In that This is part of the reason we have engagement are essential steps know better.
scenario, any consensus-building an opposition opposing every towards combating corruption, Unless the opposition runs
for a single candidate would lead to government policy for the sake of but this remains a pipe dream in their own political houses with
a bulldozing by the ODM brigade opposing, because there is no heart Kenyan political parties. Instead, democratic ideals, equality and
and Kalonzo would then begin to for the people. the opposition will continue to ethics, public trust will remain
wallow in the miasma of political Furthermore, the lack of level accusations about corruption elusive. This is not something they
insignificance. against the government, but ignore can develop overnight.
Furthermore, political parties
are wealth generators. In the UNLESS THE OPPOSITION RUNS corruption within its own ranks.
The key opposition figures
To build more inclusive,
transparent, and accountable
intricate web of African politics, THEIR OWN POLITICAL HOUSES in Kenya have their kin in the political systems, it is imperative to
the utilisation of political parties East African Parliament and challenge and dismantle nepotistic
as vehicles for personal wealth WITH DEMOCRATIC IDEALS, they have ambition and plans practices, and instead prioritise
accumulation has become an all-
too-familiar narrative. Across the
EQUALITY AND ETHICS, PUBLIC of mainstreaming them in their
political party and involve them
meritocracy, fairness, and the
common good in political decision-
African continent, politicians have TRUST WILL REMAIN ELUSIVE in party goings-on so that they making.
 12
COMMENT WOMAN OF ACTION
Lawyer Njoki
Mboce during
the protest by
LSK against
threats to the
rule of law
/INTERNET
LSK at a crossroads as polls
for new president beckons
A
OFAFA ONDIEK
t the height of the struggle
for multiparty democracy
and freedom of speech in
the 1980s and 1990s, times
were when Kenyans turned to the
news to find out what the LSK boss
had said about the prevailing situ-
ation in the country.
President Daniel arap Moi had
created a state of fear, in which voic-
es of conscience were few and far
apart. Because the LSK was also the
organisation to which many human
rights defenders also belonged, they
effectively partnered with outspo-
ken clergy like Bishops Alexander
Muge, Manases Kuria, David Gitari
and John Henry Okulu.
Predictably, Moi and the Kanu re-
gime always sought to influence the
leadership of the organisation, as it
had become a thorn in the flesh of
the regime. Moi already had prob-
lems with many intellectuals in ac-
ademia, and to a large extent, the
LSK, being an organisation for legal
minds and top intellectuals, always
bothered him by the widespread in-
dependence of mind and thought
within it. Dictatorships, especially of
the incompetent variety, never fancy
such organisations.
Over the years, the allure of the
LSK as a melting pot of public inter-
est discourse and fighters for great-
er democratic space has somewhat
declined. Which is interesting, given
that in overall terms, there is still
much to be done to safeguard consti-
tutional gains and the independence
of institutions of the state.
Perhaps in some way, Mwai Kibaki
having replaced Moi as president,
created a largely performing nation,
in which freedoms were guaranteed
and the need for the LSK to be the
sounding board for liberation fell
sharply. In many ways however,
the President William Ruto regime
closely mirrors the Moi one, which
suggests that the fight to protect
freedom and liberty will almost
certainly look like what happened
under Moi.
Instinctively, I have been looking
for the firebrand within the cast of
those running for president of LSK
More news on in the elections slated for the end of
our website. this month. Understandably, a critic
Scan this quick must be fair not to expect a Pheroze
response code Nowrojee, a Lee Muthoga, a GBM
using your Kariuki or a Gibson Kamau Kuria
smartphone. in 2024, having accepted that the
THE-STAR.CO.KE
MBOCE’S necessity of the times has blunted
the edge around the emergence of
BRILLIANT CV firebrand leadership.
But at the very least, it is not too
SPEAKS FOR much to ask, that the next president
HER AND HER be someone who has national issues
at the fingertips, who does not fear
ABILITY TO to speak truth to power and holds
FACE ISSUES enough credibility to secure the so-
ciety from encroachment by regime
HEAD ON PUTS apologists.
After careful consideration, I am
HER AHEAD IN persuaded that the person who
THE CONTEST stands high and above all else in the
contest to succeed lawyer Eric Theuri
as the next LSK president is none
other than Harriet Njoki Mboce,
an advocate of the High Court who
practices law in her firm, Njoki
Mboce and Company Advocates.
The University of Nairobi course
instructor is articulate, confident,
mentally agile and comes packed
with huge doses of courage. Mboce
is the founder of the Nairobi-based
think tank, Utafiti Hub and a found-
er member of the Maritime Centre/
Fish FORCE Academy East Africa.
In 2021, she received the Head
of State commendation award for
her distinguished service to the na-
tion. She has served as a technical
expert on several critical domestic
and international committees, in-
cluding the technical committee that
organised global Sustainable Blue
Economy Conference in November
2018, as well as a technical expert in
the Building Bridges Initiative. The
former visiting fellow at the Uni-
versity of Cape Town, Centre for
Comparative Law, offers pro bono
trial advocacy in Kenya, Uganda and
Botswana.
It is not just Mboce’s brilliant CV
that speaks for her, but her ability
to face issues head on also puts her
ahead in the leadership contest, at
a time when the Judiciary’s own
independence is in sharp focus and
young lawyers’ welfare is a sticking
point.
Being the 51st LSK boss, if elected,
she would launch the next golden
jubilee of society leaders, with confi-
dence and assertiveness. Her rallying
call is “Bold, Firm, Action”, and it
isn’t difficult to see why. She is bold
in approach to issues, firm in her
principles and action-oriented. The
LSK is ripe for this combination, and
I do hope the lawyers will acknowl-
edge this when they go to the ballot.
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
INTEGRITY QUESTION
Plans to hire Chebukati as
judge is height of impunity
SAM OMWENGA
E
veryone who has headed whatever outfit that
was in place to run elections going back to the
Electoral Commission of Kenya days has been
nothing but a briefcase carrier for the person
he declared as the winner of the presidential election.
The current reincarnation of ECK is the Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which was cre-
ated in the 2010 constitutional reforms. The expectation
was that the new electoral agency would rid the country
of electoral crimes and deliver open, fair and transparent
elections.
Note: I have not said to rid the country of rigging,
which is an impossibility. There are no perfect elections,
and sometimes there is only a thin line of separation be-
tween what can be deemed as rigging and sheer shrewd
politics by those who know and are able to maximide ev-
ery opportunity at their disposal to bury their opponent.
The latter is what President William Ruto did in hoist-
ing himself to the presidency.
This can be distinguished from what happened in
2007, 2013 and 2017 in ways that make it a separate
matter and in a class of its own.
In 2007 we had in your face, thuggish rigging that
nearly plunged the country into a civil war.
In 2013, neither presidential candidate won the req-
uisite 50 per cent plus one—at least that’s what most of
us believe. However, the Opposition, led by its flagbearer
Raila Odinga, conducted such a lacklustre campaign
compared to what was expected, and more so compared
to 2007 such that the powers that be decided to do away
with round two and had President Uhuru Kenyatta de-
clared as winner. In other words, the 2013 election’s
IEBC chairman—a man whose ticket to fame had much
to do with which community he hailed from more than
anything else did not disappoint.
The man delivered a flawed election outcome whose
toxic stench was only neutralised by the Supreme Court’s
fumigation, which allowed the country to barely breathe.
Those of us who pushed for the man, coming from a
formerly marginalised community to be appointed as
IEBC chairman, thought he would prove to the nation
and country that it is possible to have a corruption-free
IEBC, or at least one that delivers credible elections.
And with that, the man would have been lifted high as
a hero, no different from any of the founding fathers.
He miserably failed in that regard and proved he was
THE PLAN IS just as corrupt or at least he was able, willing and ready
to do the bidding of those who wanted him to ignore
TO POSITION the constitution and violate his office. He did not dis-
HIM WELL appoint them.
You would think I am talking about Wafula Chebu-
ENOUGH TO BE kati, the immediate former chairman of the electoral
commission.
ELEVATED TO The characterisation fits but Chebukati only continued
THE SUPREME where the man left off.
When four IEBC commissioners resigned at the tense
COURT AS moments when Raila and team were engaged in an ex-
CHIEF ercise in futility at the Supreme Court in 2022, that was
all the evidence one needed to know Chebukati was
JUSTICE presiding over a joint far removed from the rule of law
and democratic ideals.
The difference between 2022 and all other awful elec-
toral misconduct and criminality is the Azimio leader
mostly suffered from self-inflicted wounds and was
majorly let down by many around him while Ruto and
company were strategically and stealthily matching on-
ward to State House.
Never mind what Ruto has done, or more accurately,
what he has failed to do since getting there.
It is now being reported that there is some plan to
appoint Chebukati as a Court of Appeal judge and po-
sition him well enough to be elevated to the Supreme
Court as Chief Justice.
Doing so would be the height of impunity unlike any-
thing we have ever seen, and even though the source
of this information is none other than Raila, who is
not known to carelessly say things of this magnitude,
one can only assume this was some trial balloon to see
people’s reaction.
That reaction must be a resounding no and proceed
only at the risk of hammering yet another nail on the
presently loose one-term casket.
Some things are just not worth even trying.
Legal analyst and political commentator
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
COMMENTARY 34TH ANNIVERSARY
Ouko murder probe: How fraudsters
fooled Gor Sungu select committee
W
hen, in August of 1990,
Scotland Yard’s Detec-
tive Superintendent
John Troon, published
his ‘Final Report’ on the investiga-
tion into the murder of Minister of
CAMERON GRANT Foreign Affairs, Dr Robert Ouko, he
had no firm suspects. Instead, his
@TheStarKenya report could only call for ‘further
investigations’.
Writer
The conclusions to Troon’s final
report included six recommenda-
tions on how this further investiga-
tion might be conducted. The first
of these recommendations called
for “full and impartial investigation
into the allegations made by the BAK
directors against some senior gov-
ernment personnel”.
THE ‘KISUMU MOLASSES CORRUP-
TION REPORT’ THEORY
This allegation neatly outlines
what came to be known as the
‘Kisumu molasses corruption report
theory’. This theory postulated that
Robert Ouko was killed because he
was preparing a report on corrup-
tion in the upper reaches of Kenya’s
government. More specifically, this
was in regard to a contracts-for-‘kick
backs’ graft scandal hidden within
the tender process for the proposed
rehabilitation of the Kisumu molas-
ses production plant.
Despite the allegation, Troon
never found any record of such a
report. None of the people he inter-
viewed as part of the investigation
ever even admitted to having seen
it. In fact, only one person, ‘BAK
director’ Marianne Briner-Mattern,
ever mentions its existence. Despite
this, Troon considered the Kisumu
molasses corruption report worthy
of greater scrutiny.
When Troon mentions the BAK
directors, it is Briner-Mattern and
Domenico Airaghi that he is talking
of. As the self-proclaimed directors
of the BAK Group, it was Airaghi
and Briner-Mattern’s company that
had initially won the tender for the
Kisumu molasses plant revamp in
1987. They had lost the contract – the
Minister of Industry at the time, Dal-
mas Otieno, had ended the contract
with ‘BAK Group’ after it was found
that they hadn’t done the promised
feasibility study, nor sourced any
funds for the proposed construc-
tion – many months before Ouko
was murdered.
Troon considered the testimony
of Briner-Mattern and Airaghi with
a high degree of confidence, believ-
ing them to be running “a reputable
company” and assessing them to be
“truthful and honest” individuals.
Despite their failure to meet the
terms of their contract, Briner-Mat-
tern and Airaghi successfully pre-
sented themselves to Troon as rep-
resentatives of a cheated foreign
company. Their accusations of a
More news on corruption report and their claims,
our website.
Scan this quick
levelled on the Kenyan government,
for compensation no doubt backed
response code up this impression.
using your The so-called ‘BAK Directors’
smartphone. were not cheated innocents, how-
THE-STAR.CO.KE
ever. They were fraudsters and one
of them even had the rap sheet to
prove it.
SINATRA AND SCANDAL
All the while the ‘BAK Group’ had
been tendering for the molasses
plant rehabilitation contract, Airaghi
was on bail from an Italian court. In
1987, mere months before Kenya’s
Cabinet ratified the ‘BAK Group’/
molasses plant project deal, he had
been convicted for extortion by a
court in Milan. At his conviction, the
judge said of Airaghi that he had “the
attributes of an international fortune
hunter.”
Briner-Mattern had been a witness
in Airaghi’s case but the judge said
of her time on the stand that it was
best to draw a “compassionate veil”
over her testimony. With almost the-
atrical irony, considering how much
authority her testimony would be
given in the Ouko murder inves-
tigation that came five years later,
the judge even commented on her
“unreliability” as a witness.
Though it managed to escape
Troon’s team at the time of the Ouko
murder investigation, stories of this
scandalous nature were already in-
timately enmeshed with the names
Airaghi and Briner-Mattern. They
had been ever since Airaghi allowed
himself to be interviewed by Italian
magazine Europeao while he was
again on trial for fraud.
In that interview, he said this
of himself: “I dedicate my efforts
to whatever activity can make me
money” (‘The Voice of a Godfather’,
in Europeao, December 5, 1987 ). He
then went on to describe his role in
facilitating the illegal purchase of
weapons for Pretoria’s police force;
South Africa was, at the time, subject
to an international arms embargo.
After that, unpressured, he volun-
teered information on his role in an
alleged money laundering scheme
enacted on behalf of non-other than
one of the most popular singers and
entertainers of the 20th century,
Frank Sinatra, as well as the Italian
Hollywood film star (Three coins
in the fountain and The Italian Job)
Rossano Brazzi.
Airaghi went to make unbeliev-
able allegations that he had han-
dled billions of dollars of Sinatra’s
money through Brazzi, buying arms,
money-laundering and “who knows
what else”.
By now ‘irony’ starts to feel as if it
isn’t the right word for the parallels
the past has with the Ouko murder
investigation. With money on the
table, the Europeao article proves
that Airaghi was entirely capable of
spreading scandalous stories in order
to leverage pressure on whomever
BRINER-MATTERN AND AIRAGHI,
SO-CALLED ‘BAK DIRECTORS’,
WERE NOT CHEATED INNOCENTS
IN KISUMU MOLASSES TENDER,
WHEN THEY TESTIFIED
might be coerced into releasing it.
In fact, this stratagem from the
Airaghi/Briner-Mattern playbook
sees a re-emergence after Troon’s
Ouko murder investigation. With
their compensation claims still un-
met, Briner-Mattern, now speaking
to the 2005 Parliamentary Select
Committee on the Ouko murder,
intimated that she was ready to share
the whole truth, including what she
knew about President Daniel arap
Moi’s proclivity for Ugandan pros-
titutes.
“What convinced Moi most to stop
Dr Ouko”, she said, suggesting in this
context that then President was Ou-
ko’s killer, “was the information that
Dr Ouko had inquired about Moi’s
private life and here mainly about
the Ugandan girls.”
In that same committee inter-
view, Briner-Mattern also alleged
that she’d been in a “relationship”
with Moi since 1980/81. She also
claimed that she’d ended her once
great friend Raila Odinga’s 2002
presidential bid “with just one phone
call” (Briner-Mattern witness testi-
mony, PSC Inquiry 2003-5 ). It is ob-
vious now, looking back and with all
the evidence in front of us, that this
convicted blackmailer and his ac-
complice were willing to create any
story, no matter how salacious, in
order to extort money out of others.
‘BAK GROUP’: THE “REPUTABLE
COMPANY”
Despite their principle role in
Troon’s investigation, neither of the
pair were resident in Kenya when
Ouko was killed. Airaghi had been
expelled from the country for his
role in the Kisumu molasses con-
tract tussle in 1989. Officially, he
was charged with interference in
government matters. So, in 1991, he
and Briner-Mattern were resident in
Marbella, Spain.
It was from Europe that the so-
called “reputable company” ‘BAK
Group’, was making its claims on
the Kenyan government. Howev-
er, investigation into this group of
13
Dr Robert Ouko companies uncovers a great many
during a Kanu irregularities.
meeting in 1990 Various ‘BAK’ entities were found
/STAR FILE to have used four different names
and two addresses in the three years
that followed Ouko’s death. At the
time of the minister’s murder not
one of the BAK companies had ever
been formally registered and there
was no evidence that any one of
them ever actually traded.
In fact, the fifth iteration of a ‘BAK
Group’ company, ‘BAK Group Mari-
anne Briner and Partner’, was only
registered with Switzerland’s Reg-
ister of Company’s on the February
13, 1990, the very day that Ouko was
murdered.
It is unclear how these facts, as
well as the fact of these various ‘BAK’
entities facing liquidation proceed-
ings in every country they operated,
eluded the Scotland Yard investiga-
tors. What is clear is what the ‘BAK
directors’ sought to get out of their
part in the investigation. After Ou-
ko’s murder and the registration of
‘BAK Group’, Briner-Mattern’s claim
for compensation for losses suppos-
edly incurred in relation to the Mo-
lasses Project increased overnight
from $150,000 to $5.975 million.
THE TALL TALES TOLD AND HOW
THEY UNRAVELLED
The behaviour of this now-notori-
ous pair would eventually catch up
with them, even if only insofar as it
has now undermined the “truthful
and honest” label Troon once gave
them.
It was perhaps best put by one of
the men unwillingly embroiled in
this story of slander and salacious
tales. After Briner-Mattern’s PSC
interview, in which she claimed to
have scuttled Raila’s presidential bid,
the great man was interviewed for
his thoughts on the claims.
Asked about the friendship Bri-
ner-Mattern had suggested at, as well
as other claims she had made in rela-
tion to him, Raila had this to say: “If
that is what she is saying, then her
entire story may be fake.”
 14
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9-11, 2024
Accept school fees
digitally and in cash
T
he government has frequently
complained that the Judiciary is
obstructive and holding up its reform
programme.
On Tuesday the High Court suspended
implementation of the Education ministry
directive that all school fees should be
paid through the e-Citizen portal. This has
definite advantages - it prevents fraud by
tracking all payments and is convenient for
digital-savvy parents.
But the High Court heard an application
that there has been inadequate public
consultation; there was no tender for the
paybill number 222222; not all parents
have internet; and some parents pay fees
in kind, for instance with chickens or maize
flour.
Yet there are well more than 32 million
registered smartphones in Kenya and over
77 million mobile money accounts for a
population of 50 million of whom around
30 million are adults (over 18 years).
Virtually the whole population is capable of
paying through e-Citizen.
The court could have allowed Kenyans
to continue paying fees in cash or through
e-Citizen, whichever they prefer, until
the case is resolved in court. Suspending
payment of fees through e-Citizen was
too punitive. Allowing the old and new
systems to operate in parallel would have
been a reasonable compromise.
HISTORICAL QUOTE
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength
from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
THOMAS PAINE
The English-American activist was born on February
9, 1737
WWW.THE-STAR.CO.KE
Lion Place, Waiyaki Way, Westlands
PO Box 74497-00200 , Nairobi, Kenya
+254 20 424 4000 | newsdesk@the-star.co.ke
COO Associate Editor, Daily
Agnes Kalekye Joseph Olweny
Head of Content
Paul Ilado
News Editor
Jillo Kadida
Weekend Editor
Francis Openda
Digital Editor
Francis Mureithi
The Star is a publication of the Star publications
THE-STAR.CO.KE
COLUMN SYSTEMIC SLEAZE
Embakasi blast exposes
graft in our institutions
MICHAEL MUGWANG’A
@TheStarKenya
Political
commentator
A victim of the gas explosion in Embakasi, Nairobi county, on February 2 / EZEKIEL AMING’A
O
n Thursday, February 1, just
when many Nairobians
were celebrating the end
of a very long January, a
tragedy occurred. A fire broke out in
Nairobi’s Embakasi estate and by the
time its flames were extinguished,
seven people were dead. The fire
broke out when a lorry carrying gas
cylinders exploded at Mradi Area at
around 11.30pm. The lorry was leav-
ing a Liquified Petroleum Gas filling
factory in the same area.
The country was later to be told
the factory was illegal. It had not
been licensed to operate for a year.
Just hours after the tragedy that
also left about 300 people injured
in hospitals, the blame and denial
game began.
The first to deny responsibility was
the Energy and Petroleum Regula-
tory Authority, the agency Kenyans
trust with regulating where and
when such a facility is set but one
many know for raising prices of fuel
every mid-month.
On February 2, the authority said
it had received three applications
to build a liquefied petroleum gas
/THESTARKENYA storage at the site but declined all on
grounds that they did not meet stip-
@THESTARKENYA ulated safety distances in the area.
The authority claimed the main
reason was failure of the designs to
meet the safety distances as stipu-
lated. It said the applicant was re-
quested to submit a Qualitative Risk
Assessment clearly indicating the
radiation blast profiles in the unfor-
Political Editor
tunate case of an explosion but the
same was not provided.
Felix Olick But the factory was still set up and
operated.
Photo Editor
Jack Owuor The Nairobi county government
Sports Editor
Chris Mbaisi
More news on
our website.
whose officers are known to hunt
and chase mama mboga in every
Scan this quick nook and cranny for failing to bribe
response code
using your
them could not tell whether a big gas
refilling factory a couple of metres
smartphone. from their Embakasi offices had not
been licensed for more than a year!
The National Environment Man-
agement Authority which smells
loud music and arrests thousands
of owners of licensed entertainment
joints every night did not hear any
sound from the factory for that long!
Our ever hawk-eyed police offi-
cers who collect hundreds of shil-
lings from each of the thousands of
licensed alcohol outlets in the city
every day just missed out on an
unlicensed gas refilling plant right
outside the Embakasi police division
headquarters!
Our tax collector, Kenya Rev-
enue Authority, did not notice a
multi-million shilling gas investor
was not paying any taxes for a year,
even the newly employed thousands
of tax marshals were ‘blind’ to the
untaxed money-minting.
We are a country of jokers and
these jokes will be our undoing. The
corruption in our official govern-
ment system is what will kill us as
a nation. It is official corruption that
killed the seven innocent compatri-
ots that perished in the February, 1
fire. It is corruption that has the 300
other victims looking at hospitals’
ceilings all day for the past one week,
in pain unimaginable.
And our reactionary government
is not helping!
At the heart of the country lies a
stark reality that demands urgent
TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD
BE THE CORNERSTONES OF
OUR GOVERNANCE SYSTEM,
WITH MECHANISMS IN PLACE
TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC
SERVANTS SERVE THE
INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
attention: a cycle of corruption and
exploitation thriving amidst disas-
ters and daily struggles. From illegal
gas stations operating unchecked
to Government officials demand-
ing protection fees, the very fabric of
governance is tainted by a reaction-
ary nature that impedes progress
and perpetuates injustice.
At the forefront of this dire sit-
uation are the illegal gas stations
scattered across the country. These
ticking time bombs pose a grave
threat to public safety, yet they
continue to operate with impunity.
The Government’s lax enforcement
and complicity in turning a blind
eye allow these establishments to
thrive endangers the lives of count-
less citizens.
The recent tragedies, such as the
devastating gas explosions that
claimed innocent lives, serve as
painful reminders of the urgent
need for action.
Moreover, the pervasive culture of
corruption extends its tendrils into
every sector of society. From small
business owners to multinational
corporations, the burden of bribery
and extortion weighs heavy on the
shoulders of hardworking Kenyans.
Bar owners, despite having all the
necessary permits and licences,
are forced to pay daily protection
fees to unscrupulous police, coun-
ty and other authorities under the
threat of harassment or closure. This
exploitation not only drains their
resources but also erodes trust in
Government’s ability to uphold the
rule of law.
The repercussions of this system-
ic corruption ripple far and wide,
exacerbating the socio-economic
disparities that plague our nation.
It is imperative that we break
free from this vicious cycle of cor-
ruption and exploitation. The time
for half-hearted reforms and empty
promises is long past.
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024 THE-STAR.CO.KE 15

COMMENTARY IRAN-KENYA TIES

Iran President
Ebrahim Raisi
during a press
conference in
Tehran, Iran, on
August 29 last
year/XINHUA
/SHADATI

Science and technology takes

centre stage as Irans turns 45
I
KHAMIS ran will celebrate the 45th
MOHAMED
anniversary of the 1979 Islamic
@TheStarKenya
Revolution on February 11, 2024.
Political The revolution overthrew
commentator
the 2,500 years of monarchies
and Pahlavi regime in Iran and
established the first Islamic Republic
under the leadership of an Islamic
jurisprudence, a unique event in the
history of the global world.
The impact of the revolution
and the Islamic Republic has not
been limited to Iran. Iextends to
the entire Islamic world and to
all of contemporary global affairs,
including in the fields of science and
technology.
The fields are the most important
factors for the progress of a country.
After the victory of the revolution,
Iran made strenuous efforts to
compensate the backwardness
of the regime of Shah and set the
ground for scientific progress. Today,
her achievements in science and
technology are noteworthy. Iran is
one of the top global leaders science
and technology.
Although unilateral coercive
measures, illegitimate unlawful
sanctions and an eight-year war
imposed by then Iraq President
Saddam Hussein with the support
of the US and western superpowers
slowed down the speed of scientific
and technological progress in Iran,
the war itself was a bounty as Imam
Khomeini called it.
It forced Iranian youths to rely
on the indigenous capacities and
capabilities to make the country
independent, hence, numerous
scientific and technological
breakthroughs were put on display
one after the other.
Scientific and technological
progress is not possible without
specialised and able forces, thus,
the Islamic Republic has embarked
on expansion and deepening of
education in every level since its
establishment.
The first step was taken by Imam
Khomeini when he ordered the
formation of “Literacy Movement” in
the first year of founding the Islamic
Republic. As a result, the literacy rate
increased from 47 to more than 90
per cent.
Iran’s successes in the field of
education have made the Unesco
to praise its efforts. Meanwhile,
progress in higher education has
been more spectacular as the number
of universities have increased more
than 11 times compared with the
Pahlavi regime.
Currently, there are more than
2,570 universities in Iran, with
three million and 800,000 students
studying in those institutions, while
before the Islamic Revolution, there
were just 170,000 students in the
universities.
The eye-catching increase of
Iranians with higher education has
enabled the country to enjoy ample
specialised and skilled workforce to
accelerate development in various
fields.
Scientific growth in Iran has been
so high that the country is ranked
15th in the world. The speed of
scientific growth has been 11 times
more than the average global rate.
The Islamic Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization, affiliated
to the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, announced that the
Islamic Republic ranks first in the
terms of sciences, research and
inventions among Islamic nations.
One of the criteria for assessment
of a country’s scientific level is the
articles that are published by valid
scientific centres. According to the
ISI report, the number of scientific
articles after the revolution had
increased more than 69 times in
2016. Another outcome of giving
priority to science and research is
the successes of Iranian teenagers in
various scientific Olympiads.
Iranian students have participated
in different fields such as
mathematics, physics, chemistry,
computer, biology, astronomy
and so on. Since 1987 when the
Islamic Republic attended scientific
Olympiads, the representatives of
Iran have garnered nearly 700
medals and have been among 10 top
nations in difficult scientific exams.
Today, Iran enjoys a prominent
scientific position in the region
and the world and, in some of the
sophisticated technologies which
are in the monopoly of the western
governments; Iran is a pioneer.
The importance of presence in
the space is felt so much so that the
nations without space technology
and satellites are called blind.
Satellites are very effective in the
fields like telecommunications,
research, studying underground
resources, meteorology and
mapping, and some countries even
use them for spying and military
purposes.
Iran, u nderstand i ng the
importance of satellites, has attained
colossal breakthroughs in this
domain despite many sanctions,
pressures and obstacles which have
been illegally put on the way of Iran’s
progress.
The Islamic Republic is the 11th
country that has achieved the
technology of launching satellite and
eighth that has launched a satellite
to the earth’s orbit. It is also the
only country in West Asia which
has the capability of manufacturing
satellites.
The first Iranian satellite was
named Omid (hope), which was
launched in 2009 with the help of
satellite-carrier Safir (emissary).
Thus, Iran officially joined the club
of nations possessing the technology
of making and launching satellite.
Two years later, the satellite named
Rasad (monitor) was put in the orbit
with more facilities for imaging
and, in 2012, Navid (promise) was
launched. The last Iranian satellite,
the sub-orbital launch of the Qaem
100 satellite carrier, was successfully
conducted in October 2022.
This successful orbital launch
marks a significant step forward in
Iran’s space programme and further
strengthens its position as a regional
space power.
The Islamic Republic has made
great progress in the field of
peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The western powers, especially
the US, have made many efforts to
demonise Iran’s totally peaceful
nuclear achievements in a bid to
prevent her path of progress. This
comes while country has done
all its activities under the full
supervision and verification regime
of the International Atomic Energy
Agency and in full compliance with
the rights and obligations under the
Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Forty-five years later, having
thwarted all ruthless efforts
expended by its enemies and co-
conspirators to overthrow the
government and replace it, the
Islamic Republic still exists as
a proud, sovereign nation that
continues to shine in the global front.
 16
WAR ON DRUGS
Second Lady Pastor Dorcas Rigathi and Mt Kenya South Bishop Canon Charles Muturi during Kabete medical camp against alcohol and drugs addiction at the
Kibichiku Secondary School grounds on Tuesday /OSDP
LETTERS OF THE WEEK
Stop slamming doors on
life-saving technologies
P
ublic health policymakers
from across the globe are
meeting in Panama this
week to brainstorm how
best to reduce the 8.5 mil-
lion annual deaths due to
smoking-related disease.
Delegates attending this World
Health Organization tobacco summit
would do well to spend time carefully
digesting a concise, but excoriating
analysis of their efforts so far.
Ahead of the 10th Conference
of the Parties to the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, a
group of international experts has
assessed the progress made by
parties in meeting their agreed obli-
gations to end smoking as quickly as
possible.
The experts’ report, the COP10
Scorecard, scrutinises the WHO’s
own documents and statistics to
reveal that member states are failing
dismally to reduce the 1.2 billion
tobacco users in the world.
The report attributes much of that
failure to the WHO’s evident opposi-
tion to technological innovation that
could curb the deadly toll of tobacco.
The FCTC explicitly includes
tobacco harm reduction (THR) in its
definition of tobacco control, empha-
sising the importance of research.
However, the WHO’s own prog-
ress report takes a negative stance
on THR products - such as vapes
and nicotine pouches - and ignores
significant milestones, such as the
Let’s make farming profitable again
Farmers have been making losses of
late due to depreciating Kenya shil-
ling. The hard economic times have
put farmers in a tough spot—from
buying farm supplies to transport-
US FDA’s recent endorsement of
all THR categories for public health
protection. Moreover, the WHO
overlooks evidence demonstrating
that, in countries experiencing a
decline in smoking rates, the use of
THR products like vapes and nicotine
pouches is increasing and displacing
cigarettes.
The WHO’s inclination towards
bans and other restrictions on THR
products contradicts the FCTC’s
endorsement of THR, actively op-
posing lifesaving technologies. This
approach leaves millions of smokers
without viable alternatives.
The COP10 Scorecard also records
a disconcerting growth in misinfor-
mation about THR, nicotine-based
products and the alleged dangers of
vapes.
As an example, it cites a recent
survey indicating that about 70 per
cent of physicians believe, incorrect-
ly, that nicotine causes lung cancer.
The issue of disinformation is par-
ticularly relevant to Kenya right now,
as our legislators consider amend-
ments to the tobacco control bill.
As the COP10 Scorecard stresses,
one of the biggest impediments
to successful tobacco control is a
refusal to draw a distinction between
tobacco and alternative nicotine
products, which carry a far lower risk
to health.
THR is founded on the undisputed
fact that the vast majority of the
harm from smoking is caused by
ing produce and selling. What were
once considered readily available
and affordable vegetables are now
out of the reach of many, eating into
farmers’ profits
THE-STAR.CO.KE
burning tobacco. Consequently, the
WHO has endorsed smoke-less nic-
otine replacement therapies, such as
patches or gums, for decades to help
individuals manage their addiction
with reduced exposure to the harm-
ful toxins in tobacco smoke.
Now the WHO appears to have
turned its opposition away from
tobacco smoke and onto smok-
ers themselves, denying them
the chance to transition to a safer
product.
Propaganda demonising re-
duced-risk products is rife. But
nicotine does not cause cancer
and Public Health England, among
others, has stated that vapes are at
least 95 per cent less harmful than
smoking.
Last month, a report by the
distinguished Cochrane network
confirmed that alternative nicotine
products are the most effective tool
for helping smokers to quit.
After studying over 27,000 smok-
ers, they found that the use of vapes
leads to better chances of quitting
than patches, gums, lozenges or
other traditional NRTs.
This is the research and evidence
our policymakers should be consid-
ering, along with the COP10 Score-
card. If they truly want to prevent
the 8,000 smoking deaths in Kenya
every year, they must not slam the
door on safer alternatives.
Reduced-risk products are saving
lives around the world. We must
reject the dogma and disinformation
that denies this.
JOSEPH MAGERO
Chairman, Campaign for Safer
Alternatives
If farmers could access quality
and affordable supplies, their profit
would increase and they will have
the zest for more production.
LYNNE OLISA
Via email
what they said ...
Looming Azimio demos
“It is the IMF and World
Bank now ruling this
country. They are
imposing their policies,
something the grand
coalition rejected. Real
state capture is now. They
have invited foreigners
to come and help them
and that is why no sector
is working. Soon, we are
going to be in ICU, that is
why we can’t wait. That is
why we are saying Baba...
save this country.”
PETER MUNYA
Former Agriculture CS
On divorce and depression
“All this turbulence and
court cases threw me into
depression from which I
just recovered recently. My
liquidity has really gone down
and looking at everything
now, it is like my close family
members have ganged up to
finish me.”
SURESH KANTARA
Billionaire
Friday-Sunday | February 9-11, 2024
COMMENT
NDIRANGU NGUNJIRI
@TheStarkenya
Unlock sustainable
investment
potential of African
continent
Africa, a continent teeming with
untapped potential, stands on the
precipice of a sustainable invest-
ment revolution. Its vast landscapes,
rich resources and with over 60 per
cent youthful, burgeoning population
have caught the attention of global
investors seeking opportunities
that marry profit with positive
environmental and social impact.
In this dynamic arena, sustainable
investments emerge as a compelling
avenue. Some of the opportunities
available include:-
Renewable energy: With abundant
sunlight and wind, Africa presents an
ideal landscape for renewable ener-
gy projects such as the Lake Turkana
Wind Power project, which was
funded to the tune of $1.095 billion
(Sh313 billion) and produces 310MW.
Solar farms and wind turbines
dotting the Sahara Desert are a tes-
tament to the continent’s potential
as a clean energy powerhouse.
Africa’s renewable energy sector
has emerged as a focal point for
sustainable investments, offering
a promising pathway to economic
development and environmental
responsibility.
Africa boasts an abundance of re-
newable energy resources, including
ample sunlight, strong winds and
geothermal potential, especially in
northern Africa.
These resources create a condu-
cive environment for the establish-
ment of solar, wind and geothermal
power projects.
Over 70 per cent of Africa’s
population lacks access to reliable
electricity. Renewable energy
investments can bridge this energy
gap, enhancing the quality of life
for millions while fuelling economic
growth and transformation. Tran-
sitioning to clean energy sources
aligns with global efforts to combat
climate change. Investors in African
renewable energy projects can con-
tribute to reducing carbon emissions
on a substantial scale.
Agricultural Innovation: Agricul-
ture remains the backbone of many
African economies, with over 60 per
cent of the population depending on
agriculture.
Sustainable practices and techno-
logical advancements hold the key to
increased yields, food security, and
economic growth.
Africa’s agricultural sector is
on the brink of transformation
through sustainable investments in
innovation, and improved production
mechanisms.
With the projection of 2.5 billion
population by 2050, ensuring food
security is paramount. Investments
in agricultural innovation can lead to
increased crop yields, improved pest
management and enhanced food
production.